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.
There are things that I've seen in my head
While I'm sleeping in bed
That do not wither in the morning light
I'm taken back, oh I'm taken back
To the dry grass and the shadows
Thinking I'd like to look at your teeth lined up in perfect rows
A maze of children's feet and orchard trees
Where the floodlands stretch inside your mouth
And when you laugh all the star-thistles stumble out
The floodlands stretch inside your mouth
And when you laugh all the star-thistles stumble out
Straw spines of valley hills all overgrown in gold
Look softer than a spool of old silk thread
But if we walked down with our feet
I'd be pullin' spines and barbs and fox-tails from your skin
Oh if we walked down with our feet
I'd be pullin' spines and barbs and fox-tails from your skin
There are things that I've seen in my head
While I'm sleeping in bed
That do not wither in the morning light
I'm taken back, oh I'm taken back
To the dry grass and the shadows
While I'm sleeping in bed
That do not wither in the morning light
I'm taken back, oh I'm taken back
To the dry grass and the shadows
Thinking I'd like to look at your teeth lined up in perfect rows
A maze of children's feet and orchard trees
Where the floodlands stretch inside your mouth
And when you laugh all the star-thistles stumble out
The floodlands stretch inside your mouth
And when you laugh all the star-thistles stumble out
Straw spines of valley hills all overgrown in gold
Look softer than a spool of old silk thread
But if we walked down with our feet
I'd be pullin' spines and barbs and fox-tails from your skin
Oh if we walked down with our feet
I'd be pullin' spines and barbs and fox-tails from your skin
There are things that I've seen in my head
While I'm sleeping in bed
That do not wither in the morning light
I'm taken back, oh I'm taken back
To the dry grass and the shadows
Lyrics submitted by holbytla, edited by SexyDexter, smallwonderrobot
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my favorite! her voice is so flow-y.
I'm pretty sure it's "A maze of children's feet in orchard trees."
I love the imagery of this song. "Strong spines of valley hills / All overgrown in gold" It's so nostalgic for me, because I picture the mountains around my grandparents house–I really am "taken back" :)
Beautiful piece, really captures the half-dream state of lying in bed. Riffing on images from a lover's teeth is so creative, really makes the song.