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.
You sauntered off and you said how’s tricks
You can’t mix drugs with your politics
So we took and talked and lost the plot
And after that everything seemed fine
And as it stings and beautiful collide
We watch each others worlds ride under the tide
With intoxicating hands
Cold cold hearts
And well laid plans
Are you listening
Are you listening
As the days
Like the waves
Pile up behind you
La la la la la
You keep it all
Melt my plastic heart
And help me move on
I’m moving on
How do you escape
The great pails of pouring rain
Go to an island or a house in Spain oh
La la la la la la oh
Oh how we’d kill to go
Erect the gutters and move us in
Life or buildings and medicines
We all make the same mistakes
Our pitfalls pull us together
Are you listening
Are you listening
As the days
Like the waves
Pile up behind you
La la la la la
They keep it all
Melt my plastic heart
And help me move on
Ohh
???
La la la la la
You keep it all
Melt my plastic heart
And help me move on
La la la la la
Keep it on
Friends for life and acquaintances
Romance and great distances
There’s been so many casualties
But I cannot run out over these
Oh no
You can’t mix drugs with your politics
So we took and talked and lost the plot
And after that everything seemed fine
And as it stings and beautiful collide
We watch each others worlds ride under the tide
With intoxicating hands
Cold cold hearts
And well laid plans
Are you listening
Are you listening
As the days
Like the waves
Pile up behind you
La la la la la
You keep it all
Melt my plastic heart
And help me move on
I’m moving on
How do you escape
The great pails of pouring rain
Go to an island or a house in Spain oh
La la la la la la oh
Oh how we’d kill to go
Erect the gutters and move us in
Life or buildings and medicines
We all make the same mistakes
Our pitfalls pull us together
Are you listening
Are you listening
As the days
Like the waves
Pile up behind you
La la la la la
They keep it all
Melt my plastic heart
And help me move on
Ohh
???
La la la la la
You keep it all
Melt my plastic heart
And help me move on
La la la la la
Keep it on
Friends for life and acquaintances
Romance and great distances
There’s been so many casualties
But I cannot run out over these
Oh no
Lyrics submitted by life_aint_chess
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