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.
Every single day I feel like I've been tested
more than the day before
Learned from my youth that life will tempt me with vices
until my shoes are well worn
Drilling through my head like an electric incisor
trying to make a new hole
Am I a rare case or is that just what life is
only in death will you know
Hey
Free from the pain
Said it once, I'll say it again
I'm free from the pain
Said it once, I'll say it again
In between all the laughing and daydreams
lies a desert of truth
And oh, darling you can live in the moment
until good fortune finds you
Cause every single day you feel like you've been sliding
more than the day before
And is it cruel or is that just what life is
only in death will you know
Hey
Free from the pain
Said it once, I'll say it again
I'm free from the pain
Said it once, I'll say it again
[Noise]
Said pain, pain, pain
Said it once, said it once
Pain, pain, pain
Said it once, said it once
Pain, I'm free, I'm free
Said it once, said it once
Pain, I'm free, I'm free
Said it once, said it once
[Noise]
Free, free, free...
more than the day before
Learned from my youth that life will tempt me with vices
until my shoes are well worn
Drilling through my head like an electric incisor
trying to make a new hole
Am I a rare case or is that just what life is
only in death will you know
Hey
Free from the pain
Said it once, I'll say it again
I'm free from the pain
Said it once, I'll say it again
In between all the laughing and daydreams
lies a desert of truth
And oh, darling you can live in the moment
until good fortune finds you
Cause every single day you feel like you've been sliding
more than the day before
And is it cruel or is that just what life is
only in death will you know
Hey
Free from the pain
Said it once, I'll say it again
I'm free from the pain
Said it once, I'll say it again
[Noise]
Said pain, pain, pain
Said it once, said it once
Pain, pain, pain
Said it once, said it once
Pain, I'm free, I'm free
Said it once, said it once
Pain, I'm free, I'm free
Said it once, said it once
[Noise]
Free, free, free...
Lyrics submitted by omgwut
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Techno Ted may be a person who caused Chris incredible emotional pain & trepidation as well as moments of peace & happiness but now is removed and awaiting his fate. Darling may be a different person who is also free of him and can live her life free of Ted's tyranny. "In between all the laughing, and daydreams ... lies: a desert of truth" Lies are like a desert or the omission of Truth: Where there were Lies then Truth was absent. The song, "Techno Ted", may be a cathartic celebration of the downfall of this person.