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've got nowhere to go but up
To where you'll dine with foreign kings
You can't forget about our tryst
And all those other fleeting things
And will they train you like a dog?
And will they walk you down my street?
The wind will whistle our old songs
The ones I'll always keep
You've got nowhere to go
I've got a bone to pick with you
About the argument we had
The day you got into that cab
And said my world is in your past
You've got nowhere to go
There must be something wrong with me
My mind is just a sickly little alibi
And why am I surprised you're giving up on me?
Goodbye: the word you're wielding like a knife
You've got nowhere to go
To where you'll dine with foreign kings
You can't forget about our tryst
And all those other fleeting things
And will they train you like a dog?
And will they walk you down my street?
The wind will whistle our old songs
The ones I'll always keep
You've got nowhere to go
I've got a bone to pick with you
About the argument we had
The day you got into that cab
And said my world is in your past
You've got nowhere to go
There must be something wrong with me
My mind is just a sickly little alibi
And why am I surprised you're giving up on me?
Goodbye: the word you're wielding like a knife
You've got nowhere to go
Lyrics submitted by nikisayswhat
The Word You Wield Lyrics as written by Bill O. Laswell Michael James Beinhorn
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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And why am I surprised You’re giving up on me Goodbye The words you’re wielding like a knife
...those lines kill me every time. it's like i can feel the knife too.