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.
Rising above
Tension below
Learn from the in-between
Belinded by trust
Asleep to the truth
Awakened by disbelief
But somewhere I've found
Strength in my soul
But still you refuse to see
Are you sure I'm not all right
Cause lately I've been feeling fine
Every lifeline leads its own way to the heavens
But I have seen you run in circles unforgiven
Is there anything in this world that can make you stop?
Oh, you're a machine
A world of your own
Hollow inside
Careful when worlds collide
I'm filling my life
With all it can hold
I'll carry it on with pride
Are you sure I'm not all right
Cause lately I've been feeling fine
Every lifeline leads its own way to the heavens
But I have seen you run in circles unforgiven
Is there anything in this world that can make you stop?
Oh, you're a machine
The sun's still above
All the rain that's coming down
And I can fell the clouds drifting away
Now the sky is open wide
Turn the light on
And you will see things so much clearer
There's no heart, there's no heart
And I've spent all this time feeling
Something you can't feel at all
You're a machine,
Oh, you're a machine
Tension below
Learn from the in-between
Belinded by trust
Asleep to the truth
Awakened by disbelief
But somewhere I've found
Strength in my soul
But still you refuse to see
Are you sure I'm not all right
Cause lately I've been feeling fine
Every lifeline leads its own way to the heavens
But I have seen you run in circles unforgiven
Is there anything in this world that can make you stop?
Oh, you're a machine
A world of your own
Hollow inside
Careful when worlds collide
I'm filling my life
With all it can hold
I'll carry it on with pride
Are you sure I'm not all right
Cause lately I've been feeling fine
Every lifeline leads its own way to the heavens
But I have seen you run in circles unforgiven
Is there anything in this world that can make you stop?
Oh, you're a machine
The sun's still above
All the rain that's coming down
And I can fell the clouds drifting away
Now the sky is open wide
Turn the light on
And you will see things so much clearer
There's no heart, there's no heart
And I've spent all this time feeling
Something you can't feel at all
You're a machine,
Oh, you're a machine
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
This song is the story of my life.
This person has made mistakes in the past, but has found a new, positive light. But there are people in their life that don't believe they have changed for the better and continue to bring them down by telling them they CAN'T. Can't do this, or that.
All this person wants to do is break away, and they are pretty much sick of being held down.