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.
He made an enemy then, he made an enemy of all of you
It’s him, not you.
You never heard it from me but there’s a breach in the hull of the truth
And the water’s too deep to prove.
He made an enemy then, he made an enemy of all of you
It’s him, not you.
It’s a little red sea let the miracle worker go free
See the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the man falls in the sea.
He was a man of many nations, had a hundred souls and a hundred to go
He was a man of many nations, two hearts, two hands, it’s a slippery slope.
He had a fear of being naked, but you’re any other man in another man’s clothes
He was a man of many nations, of revelations, oh revelations.
He wrote a book about the Bible and he wrote a book about men in the sky
He wrote a book about the smell of winter then two, a little less simple to decipher
Saying, “I am the water at the foot of the palms, oh I am sand and wind and shitty mirage, but either way, I’m a man of many nations.”
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running it around? Was it the mending of the gown, or the running and the running it around?
She had a name, she had a spirit, she had a line in the play if you wanted to hear it.
But the master of disguises, her demise was her design, they said.
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running, and the running and the running it around?
She said my name and my spirit are both corrupt and if you hold me close, you gotta hold me up.
It was the tender mending of this slender gown that brought me bending to the ground.
Now you’ll wear any old thing, oh you’ll wear any old thing.
So she wrapped herself in swaddling, that the fever deviated to a broken wing,
It’s an act; I think she’s just pretending. It’s an act; I think she’s just pretending.
If you burn the virgin flags, then I will shake (Shake!) as the heat waves in the sand.
This one’s for Maggie, this one’s for Sam.
This one’s for Maggie, this one’s for Sam.
Oh, any other random spirit lover busted, I have lusted after you…
The way bloodsuckers do!
The way bloodsuckers do!
The way bloodsuckers do!
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running it around?
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running and the running and the running and the running it around?
It was the tender mending of this slender gown that brought me bending to the ground.
BUT THIS SHIP WAS BUILT TO GO DOWN
SEE THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
Whoah-oh-oh…
It’s him, not you.
You never heard it from me but there’s a breach in the hull of the truth
And the water’s too deep to prove.
He made an enemy then, he made an enemy of all of you
It’s him, not you.
It’s a little red sea let the miracle worker go free
See the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the man falls in the sea.
He was a man of many nations, had a hundred souls and a hundred to go
He was a man of many nations, two hearts, two hands, it’s a slippery slope.
He had a fear of being naked, but you’re any other man in another man’s clothes
He was a man of many nations, of revelations, oh revelations.
He wrote a book about the Bible and he wrote a book about men in the sky
He wrote a book about the smell of winter then two, a little less simple to decipher
Saying, “I am the water at the foot of the palms, oh I am sand and wind and shitty mirage, but either way, I’m a man of many nations.”
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running it around? Was it the mending of the gown, or the running and the running it around?
She had a name, she had a spirit, she had a line in the play if you wanted to hear it.
But the master of disguises, her demise was her design, they said.
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running, and the running and the running it around?
She said my name and my spirit are both corrupt and if you hold me close, you gotta hold me up.
It was the tender mending of this slender gown that brought me bending to the ground.
Now you’ll wear any old thing, oh you’ll wear any old thing.
So she wrapped herself in swaddling, that the fever deviated to a broken wing,
It’s an act; I think she’s just pretending. It’s an act; I think she’s just pretending.
If you burn the virgin flags, then I will shake (Shake!) as the heat waves in the sand.
This one’s for Maggie, this one’s for Sam.
This one’s for Maggie, this one’s for Sam.
Oh, any other random spirit lover busted, I have lusted after you…
The way bloodsuckers do!
The way bloodsuckers do!
The way bloodsuckers do!
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running it around?
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running and the running and the running and the running it around?
It was the tender mending of this slender gown that brought me bending to the ground.
BUT THIS SHIP WAS BUILT TO GO DOWN
SEE THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
Whoah-oh-oh…
Lyrics submitted by sidelines, edited by scottith, smileyoureontv
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