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.
Look them in the eye
To show them you're brave
But no one but me
Knows you're just a slave
To this part in the play
You never mean what you say
You come on so strong
You run with the hunt
Don't know what's behind you
Don't show what's in front2
Sometimes you do it to show
To someone you don't know
Like a bird on a limb
Starin' down at its toes
No song he could sing
No his voice it just froze
And the fear that you keep
Is bottled up there inside
Chorus:
And I see right through you
Right on through
But I know you see right through me too
You put on a good show
Act so in control
But you're laughin' too loud
At a joke no one told
You're not what you appear
You're just a ghost in the mirror
Sometimes what you say
Yeah, you do for effect
You wanna show someone power
You wanna get some respect
But most times you don't know
Nothin' about it all
Chorus repeat
I'm chippin' the rock
But it's dark in the mine
Don't look away now
You drive me outta my mind
But I try to act sure
I try to endure
The things that I wanted
So much outta you
A feelin' to share
A love that was true
Or maybe I just made it up
Chorus repeat x2
To show them you're brave
But no one but me
Knows you're just a slave
To this part in the play
You never mean what you say
You come on so strong
You run with the hunt
Don't know what's behind you
Don't show what's in front2
Sometimes you do it to show
To someone you don't know
Like a bird on a limb
Starin' down at its toes
No song he could sing
No his voice it just froze
And the fear that you keep
Is bottled up there inside
Chorus:
And I see right through you
Right on through
But I know you see right through me too
You put on a good show
Act so in control
But you're laughin' too loud
At a joke no one told
You're not what you appear
You're just a ghost in the mirror
Sometimes what you say
Yeah, you do for effect
You wanna show someone power
You wanna get some respect
But most times you don't know
Nothin' about it all
Chorus repeat
I'm chippin' the rock
But it's dark in the mine
Don't look away now
You drive me outta my mind
But I try to act sure
I try to endure
The things that I wanted
So much outta you
A feelin' to share
A love that was true
Or maybe I just made it up
Chorus repeat x2
Lyrics submitted by Major Valor
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