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.
So far so good
Stumble through life so complicated it's nearly impossible
And i lost my way like i knew i would and keep it together somehow anyway
And i remember you and me
Climbing over backyard fences diving naked in the swimming pool
All those faces friends those memories fade so fast like every love song on the radio
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are low
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are
Through a million days through a million hazy nights
We sit amusing in our politics
Through wine and talk through sex and art we fill our time
And numb ourselves with what's to come
But i'm older now got a little girl of my own
And her fears are my fears now
I know that it's the end of days for moderates
But thinking people are thinking still
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are low
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are
So far so good
Stumble through life so complicated it's nearly impossible
And we lost our way like i knew we would
Keep it together somehow anyway
Woke up from an impossible dream
We talked and we spoke and we drank and we sang
And we danced and we live and we love and we give
And without question or faith then we fight till we hate
And we hope and we pray that this violence will fade
It's always the same it's the same life
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are low
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are
Where the lights are low
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are low
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are
Stumble through life so complicated it's nearly impossible
And i lost my way like i knew i would and keep it together somehow anyway
And i remember you and me
Climbing over backyard fences diving naked in the swimming pool
All those faces friends those memories fade so fast like every love song on the radio
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are low
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are
Through a million days through a million hazy nights
We sit amusing in our politics
Through wine and talk through sex and art we fill our time
And numb ourselves with what's to come
But i'm older now got a little girl of my own
And her fears are my fears now
I know that it's the end of days for moderates
But thinking people are thinking still
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are low
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are
So far so good
Stumble through life so complicated it's nearly impossible
And we lost our way like i knew we would
Keep it together somehow anyway
Woke up from an impossible dream
We talked and we spoke and we drank and we sang
And we danced and we live and we love and we give
And without question or faith then we fight till we hate
And we hope and we pray that this violence will fade
It's always the same it's the same life
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are low
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are
Where the lights are low
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are low
Is it brilliant where you are
Where the lights are
Lyrics submitted by Nick_ll
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To me this song is about life. You're kid, then teenager, grow up get a job, have kids, do the adult thing argue about politics, religion and other crap. Then one day you look back on it all and wonder "thats it? thats life?". I could be completely wrong but thats what I think the song is about.