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.
Here now don't make a sound
Say have you heard the news today?
One flag was taken down
To raise another in it's place
A heavy cross you bear
A stubborn heart remains unchanged
No home, no life, no love
No stranger singing in your name
But maybe the season
The colors change in the valley skies
Dear God, I've sealed my fate
Running through hell
Heaven can wait
Long road to ruin
There in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow
No dead end in sight
Let's say we take this town
No king or queen of any state
Get up to shut it down
Open the streets and raise the gates
I know a wall to scale
I know a field without a name
Head on without a care
Before it's way too late
Maybe the season
The colors change in the valley skies
Oh God, I've sealed my fate
Running through hell
Heaven can wait
Long road to ruin
There in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow
No dead ends
Long road to ruin
There in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow
No dead end in sight
For every piece to fall in place
Forever gone without a trace
Your horizon takes its shape
No turning back, don't turn that page
Come now, I'm leaving here tonight
Come now, let's leave it all behind
Is that the price you pay
Running through hell
Heaven can wait
Long road to ruin
There in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow
No dead ends
Long road to ruin
There in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow
No dead ends
Long road to ruin
There in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow
No dead end in sight
Say have you heard the news today?
One flag was taken down
To raise another in it's place
A heavy cross you bear
A stubborn heart remains unchanged
No home, no life, no love
No stranger singing in your name
But maybe the season
The colors change in the valley skies
Dear God, I've sealed my fate
Running through hell
Heaven can wait
Long road to ruin
There in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow
No dead end in sight
Let's say we take this town
No king or queen of any state
Get up to shut it down
Open the streets and raise the gates
I know a wall to scale
I know a field without a name
Head on without a care
Before it's way too late
Maybe the season
The colors change in the valley skies
Oh God, I've sealed my fate
Running through hell
Heaven can wait
Long road to ruin
There in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow
No dead ends
Long road to ruin
There in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow
No dead end in sight
For every piece to fall in place
Forever gone without a trace
Your horizon takes its shape
No turning back, don't turn that page
Come now, I'm leaving here tonight
Come now, let's leave it all behind
Is that the price you pay
Running through hell
Heaven can wait
Long road to ruin
There in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow
No dead ends
Long road to ruin
There in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow
No dead ends
Long road to ruin
There in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow
No dead end in sight
Lyrics submitted by risefromtheashes
Long Road to Ruin Lyrics as written by Taylor Hawkins David Eric Grohl
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Word Collections Publishing, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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There's usually one guy in each song thread that tries to be funny in their interpretations by referencing penises or anal sex, and IEATFOODOKAYGUY fulfills that role quite graphically.
I too questioned the song being chosen for the second single, but it IS one of the catchier songs on the album, and it has done very well. "Cheer Up, Boys" will reportedly be the third single in Europe while us Americans get "Let It Die". Equally nice choices.
I personally think the song is about finding love and not wanting any more than to just be happy with that person, whatever it takes. The protagonist will do whatever it takes to do so, heading into a "long road of ruin". However, he seems very optimistic.