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.
Mother, where are you today?
You took a piece of me the day you went away
No recollection or the smell of your perfume
I took a piece of you the day I left the womb
(The day I left the womb)
Brother, put your needles down
The best thing for you is to leave this awful town
Pretty soon you'll have kids to feed
If you see mother, tell her I can sing
Please don't worry I am doing fine
You're much too busy to even find the time
So use your chemicals and take this to your grave
The boys you left are men you didn't raise
And daddy, how are you today?
You must be proud of the boys that you have raised
Your withered heart, and everything its seen
Your cuts and calluses; you had kids to feed
(You had kids to feed)
Please don't worry I am doing fine
You're much too busy to even find the time
So use your chemicals and take this to your grave
The boys you left are men you didn't raise
You took a piece of me the day you went away
No recollection or the smell of your perfume
I took a piece of you the day I left the womb
(The day I left the womb)
Brother, put your needles down
The best thing for you is to leave this awful town
Pretty soon you'll have kids to feed
If you see mother, tell her I can sing
Please don't worry I am doing fine
You're much too busy to even find the time
So use your chemicals and take this to your grave
The boys you left are men you didn't raise
And daddy, how are you today?
You must be proud of the boys that you have raised
Your withered heart, and everything its seen
Your cuts and calluses; you had kids to feed
(You had kids to feed)
Please don't worry I am doing fine
You're much too busy to even find the time
So use your chemicals and take this to your grave
The boys you left are men you didn't raise
Lyrics submitted by Heislegend
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!
if u didnt know this already he has a new band now called falling in reverse