So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
I want to thank myself for being so hard on myself.
There's no one else could know how much I really must improve.
I see my faults come through in every aspect of my life.
I just see the downside of every single thing I do.
(Chorus)
But when you're down this low,
No one can make you feel worse.
Yeah, when you hate yourself,
Nobody can touch you.
Yeah, when you're down this low,
The haters haven't got you.
I guess that's why, in a way,
I say self loathing rules.
I should point out that overall I'm not so negative
I know that there are lots of good things for me in this world.
I feel like, all in all, I'm only being realistic.
I've yet to see the merits of the things I'm trying to do.
(Repeat chorus X 3)
There's no one else could know how much I really must improve.
I see my faults come through in every aspect of my life.
I just see the downside of every single thing I do.
(Chorus)
But when you're down this low,
No one can make you feel worse.
Yeah, when you hate yourself,
Nobody can touch you.
Yeah, when you're down this low,
The haters haven't got you.
I guess that's why, in a way,
I say self loathing rules.
I should point out that overall I'm not so negative
I know that there are lots of good things for me in this world.
I feel like, all in all, I'm only being realistic.
I've yet to see the merits of the things I'm trying to do.
(Repeat chorus X 3)
Lyrics submitted by lvr
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Cheers mockingbirdFRANKLIN