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.
When we arrive, sons and daughters
We'll make our homes on the water
We'll build our walls aluminum
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon now
These currents pull us 'cross the border
Steady your boats, arms to shoulder
Till tides all pull our hull aground
Making this cold harbour now home
Take up your arm
Sons and daughters
We will arise from the bunkers
By land, by sea, by dirigible
We'll leave our tracks untraceable now
When we arrive, sons and daughters (when we arrive, sons and daughters)
We'll make our lives on the water (we'll make our lives on the water)
We'll build our walls aluminum
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon
When we arrive, sons and daughters (when we arrive, sons and daughters)
We'll make our homes on the water (we'll make our homes on the water)
We'll build our walls aluminum (we'll build our walls aluminum
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon (we'll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
(We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
When we arrive, sons and daughters (when we arrive, sons and daughters)
We'll make our homes on the water (we'll make our homes on the water)
We'll build our walls aluminum (we'll build our walls aluminum)
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon (we'll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
(We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
When we arrive, sons and daughters (when we arrive, sons and daughters)
We'll make our homes on the water (we'll make our homes on the water)
We'll build our walls aluminum (we'll build our walls aluminum)
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon (we'll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
(We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
We'll build our walls aluminum, now
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs, they fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs, they fade away
Hear all the bombs, they fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
We'll make our homes on the water
We'll build our walls aluminum
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon now
These currents pull us 'cross the border
Steady your boats, arms to shoulder
Till tides all pull our hull aground
Making this cold harbour now home
Take up your arm
Sons and daughters
We will arise from the bunkers
By land, by sea, by dirigible
We'll leave our tracks untraceable now
When we arrive, sons and daughters (when we arrive, sons and daughters)
We'll make our lives on the water (we'll make our lives on the water)
We'll build our walls aluminum
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon
When we arrive, sons and daughters (when we arrive, sons and daughters)
We'll make our homes on the water (we'll make our homes on the water)
We'll build our walls aluminum (we'll build our walls aluminum
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon (we'll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
(We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
When we arrive, sons and daughters (when we arrive, sons and daughters)
We'll make our homes on the water (we'll make our homes on the water)
We'll build our walls aluminum (we'll build our walls aluminum)
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon (we'll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
(We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
When we arrive, sons and daughters (when we arrive, sons and daughters)
We'll make our homes on the water (we'll make our homes on the water)
We'll build our walls aluminum (we'll build our walls aluminum)
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon (we'll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
(We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
We'll build our walls aluminum, now
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs, they fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs, they fade away
Hear all the bombs, they fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
According to the lyrics that came along with the CD, it is "Hear all the bombs, they fade away", but I do not hear the "they" in there. So I believe it's just "Hear all the bombs, fade away".
At Newport, Colin sang "they fade away"