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.
Deep in the past, far in the future time
Deep in the past, far in the future time
Just 'cause no one saw you, that don't mean it ain't a crime
They say they know me but they only know my name
They say they know me but they only know my name
They're through asking me questions, I ain't gonna learn to sing
If they want it they can take it, they don't need no reason why
If they want it they can take it, they don't need no reason why
The night they took you from me I saw the broken window and I cried
They bound my eyes and they bound my hands
They bound my eyes and they bound my hands
Where they're gonna take me now? No one understands
They say they know me but they only know my name
They say they know me but they only know my name
They're through asking me questions, I ain't gonna learn to sing
Lay their hands upon me now, it's midnight blue
Lay the hands upon me now, it's midnight blue
They didn't know me and they didn't know you, no, no
Now reduced to hide in the dark when they came for you
I gained the world but I lost your trust
I gained the world but I lost your trust
they throw their money at you, it ain't easy to adjust
Come out, and put your hands on your head
I said come out, and put your hands on your head
Come and join the rest of us, we are already dead
If they want it they can take it, they don't need no reason why
If they want it they can take it, they don't need no reason why
The night they took you from me I saw the broken window and I cried
Woe unto them if they touch a hair on your head
Woe unto them if they touch a hair on your head
You're gonna join the rest of us, we are already dead
They won the battle, but the war is through
They won the battle, but the war is through
They didn't know me and they didn't know you, no, no
Now reduced to knock in the dark when they came for you
Deep in the past, far in the future time
Just 'cause no one saw you, that don't mean it ain't a crime
They say they know me but they only know my name
They say they know me but they only know my name
They're through asking me questions, I ain't gonna learn to sing
If they want it they can take it, they don't need no reason why
If they want it they can take it, they don't need no reason why
The night they took you from me I saw the broken window and I cried
They bound my eyes and they bound my hands
They bound my eyes and they bound my hands
Where they're gonna take me now? No one understands
They say they know me but they only know my name
They say they know me but they only know my name
They're through asking me questions, I ain't gonna learn to sing
Lay their hands upon me now, it's midnight blue
Lay the hands upon me now, it's midnight blue
They didn't know me and they didn't know you, no, no
Now reduced to hide in the dark when they came for you
I gained the world but I lost your trust
I gained the world but I lost your trust
they throw their money at you, it ain't easy to adjust
Come out, and put your hands on your head
I said come out, and put your hands on your head
Come and join the rest of us, we are already dead
If they want it they can take it, they don't need no reason why
If they want it they can take it, they don't need no reason why
The night they took you from me I saw the broken window and I cried
Woe unto them if they touch a hair on your head
Woe unto them if they touch a hair on your head
You're gonna join the rest of us, we are already dead
They won the battle, but the war is through
They won the battle, but the war is through
They didn't know me and they didn't know you, no, no
Now reduced to knock in the dark when they came for you
Lyrics submitted by bestbefore1989
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