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 looked up and you were there
Just sitting there all alone
Holding your fist in the air
Like, if you need me you're on your own
You drove me home through a snowy tomb
I fell asleep in my seat
I had the dream of having no room
You were there just staring at me
At the lonely end of the rink, you and me
At the lonely end of the rink, you and me
Oh to join the rush
As the season builds
I hear your voice 'cross a frozen lake
a voice from the end of a leaf
saying, 'you won't die of a thousand fakes
or be beaten by the sweetest of dekes'
At the lonely end of the rink, you and me
At the lonely end of the rink, the lonely end of the rink
Oh to join the rush
as the season builds
Jump into the rush
As the seasons build
You drove me home through a snowy gloom
And I fell asleep in my seat
Then I had the dream of having no room
You were there just staring at me
At the lonely end of the rink, you and me
Just sitting there all alone
Holding your fist in the air
Like, if you need me you're on your own
You drove me home through a snowy tomb
I fell asleep in my seat
I had the dream of having no room
You were there just staring at me
At the lonely end of the rink, you and me
At the lonely end of the rink, you and me
Oh to join the rush
As the season builds
I hear your voice 'cross a frozen lake
a voice from the end of a leaf
saying, 'you won't die of a thousand fakes
or be beaten by the sweetest of dekes'
At the lonely end of the rink, you and me
At the lonely end of the rink, the lonely end of the rink
Oh to join the rush
as the season builds
Jump into the rush
As the seasons build
You drove me home through a snowy gloom
And I fell asleep in my seat
Then I had the dream of having no room
You were there just staring at me
At the lonely end of the rink, you and me
Lyrics submitted by mootinator
The Lonely End of the Rink Lyrics as written by Gordon Sinclair Gordon Downie
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
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This song is about when Gord was growing up he was a goalie, the "Lonely end of the Rink" refers to the goalie's end as the play is at the other end of the rink. You and me refers to his father cheering him on.
Gord's team won the championship one year while he played net, so most of the action was at the other end of the rink. Every period the teams would switch ends, & when you were at the far end end, away from the main entrance in a small rink, he would turn around & sometimes it was just his dad, standing there on the other side of the glass.