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.
(Repeat 2X)
It's how we breathe underwater
Kick it right out of frame
Does it matter?
Here where we drive into the same old park
Here we'll be so insistent
Off the mark
Here where we tremble at the same old thought
Here we'll be so insistent
Off the mark
(Repeat 2X)
(Guarded in my head for you
I can't get rid of these secrets)
Here where we tremble at the same old thought
Here when our legs give out and we get caught
Here when the stations turn to short you out
Here when the places turn till you pass out
(Repeat 4X)
(Guarded in my head for you
I can't get rid of these secrets)
Straighten your back
I wanna know that there's something there
Overneath
I wanna leave your head
It's how we breathe underwater
Kick it right out of frame
Does it matter?
Here where we drive into the same old park
Here we'll be so insistent
Off the mark
Here where we tremble at the same old thought
Here we'll be so insistent
Off the mark
(Repeat 2X)
(Guarded in my head for you
I can't get rid of these secrets)
Here where we tremble at the same old thought
Here when our legs give out and we get caught
Here when the stations turn to short you out
Here when the places turn till you pass out
(Repeat 4X)
(Guarded in my head for you
I can't get rid of these secrets)
Straighten your back
I wanna know that there's something there
Overneath
I wanna leave your head
Lyrics submitted by peaceoutside
How We Breathe Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
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I love the opening guitar. I replay it over and over.
I thought it was almost about a girl who was selfish. He had to play by her terms, "Wanna lay on your ground. Wanna breathe in your atmosphere." He wants to know if there's more to this thing they have, or will their legs always get caught, will they always tremble at the same thought? I dunno..Jimmyrcool had a better interpretation.
I think it's I want to 'live' in your head, not leave.