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.
If only, I was not a clown.
You're no good; they say to me
I'll show them that I'm not aroused.
But you're no good, if you're not proud
And put your feet back on the ground.
I had to find my way around.
I held together and made you proud.
But tell that to them,
Could be the greatest gift...
Or burden.
If you bleed and say it's all right;
You scream and tear at your poor eyes.
And you say it's all right, even when it's not,
And you say it's all right, even when it's not.
When it's not, when it's not, even when it's not (etc.)
I'm so lonely,
Scared when your around.
You're no good for me, I think.
'Cuz I'm only a stranger in this town.
You're still good if you're not proud,
So set your head back in the clouds.
I had to fight my way around
I held together, now who's your clown?
Because you bleed and say it's all right.
You scream and tear at your poor eyes.
And you say it's all right, even when it's not,
And you say it's all right, even when it's not.
And you say it's so, so I guess it's so.
And you bleed and say it's all right.
You scream and tear at your poor eyes.
And you say it's all right, even when it's not,
And you say it's all right, so I guess it's not.
'Cuz you say it's so, so I guess it's so.
You're no good; they say to me
I'll show them that I'm not aroused.
But you're no good, if you're not proud
And put your feet back on the ground.
I had to find my way around.
I held together and made you proud.
But tell that to them,
Could be the greatest gift...
Or burden.
If you bleed and say it's all right;
You scream and tear at your poor eyes.
And you say it's all right, even when it's not,
And you say it's all right, even when it's not.
When it's not, when it's not, even when it's not (etc.)
I'm so lonely,
Scared when your around.
You're no good for me, I think.
'Cuz I'm only a stranger in this town.
You're still good if you're not proud,
So set your head back in the clouds.
I had to fight my way around
I held together, now who's your clown?
Because you bleed and say it's all right.
You scream and tear at your poor eyes.
And you say it's all right, even when it's not,
And you say it's all right, even when it's not.
And you say it's so, so I guess it's so.
And you bleed and say it's all right.
You scream and tear at your poor eyes.
And you say it's all right, even when it's not,
And you say it's all right, so I guess it's not.
'Cuz you say it's so, so I guess it's so.
Lyrics submitted by Whitepawn32
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Direct MEANING for these Additional words.
I told you so.
(that's all that needs to be said) FIRST-HAND Knowledge (;