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.
Universe surrounds
When you're ready
It waits
For us to
To leave this earth
Come on, they're calling your name
Out
I don't know
I could stay or leave
Right away
'Cause the comet can take us
All the way through
Goodbye
Say Heaven
Know no one
I'll be waving
Goodbye
Say Heaven
Know no one
I'll be waving
Goodbye
Reason to see
Everything looks the same
I don't know
If the change made was great
Cause the craving remains the same
Goodbye
Say Heaven
Know no one
I'll be waving
Goodbye
Say Heaven
Know no one
I'll be waving
(Goodbye) I'll be waving
I'll be waving
(Goodbye) I'll be waving
I'll be waving
(Goodbye) I'll be waving
I'll be waving
I'll be waving
(Goodbye)
When you're ready
It waits
For us to
To leave this earth
Come on, they're calling your name
Out
I don't know
I could stay or leave
Right away
'Cause the comet can take us
All the way through
Goodbye
Say Heaven
Know no one
I'll be waving
Goodbye
Say Heaven
Know no one
I'll be waving
Goodbye
Reason to see
Everything looks the same
I don't know
If the change made was great
Cause the craving remains the same
Goodbye
Say Heaven
Know no one
I'll be waving
Goodbye
Say Heaven
Know no one
I'll be waving
(Goodbye) I'll be waving
I'll be waving
(Goodbye) I'll be waving
I'll be waving
(Goodbye) I'll be waving
I'll be waving
I'll be waving
(Goodbye)
Lyrics submitted by brandonlongwell, edited by SixThreeTimes
Xerces Lyrics as written by Chi Cheng Abran Cunningham
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Pretty sure it was stated (maybe in an interview) that the song was written from Chino's depression, mostly stemming from the fact that all the band members described the process of recording and producing the album as a hellish experience. They didn't even know if they were gonna do another album, let alone finish Saturday Night Wrist.
Lines like "I don't know, I could stay or leave" are directly in reference to that. I'm pretty sure the song has more than one meaning, but this is definitely one of them.