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.
To rise and fall
Without the hands of gravity
To see it all
My hand to cover up my eyes
To move inside
Suspended by my sense of self
Along the line
The river flows and so do I
And Charles Atlas stands upon the beach
Upon his head and says
I will not fall
I will not fall
I will not fall
To live the groove
Is everything that I need
To see you move
When grace is just a simple wisdom
To feel, to live
To speak the truth at every junction
To be with you
And with myself and my suspicion
And Charles Atlas stands upon the beach
Upon his head and says
I will not fall
I will not fall
I will not fall
And Charles Atlas stands upon the beach
Upon his head and says
I will not fall
I will not fall
I will not fall
I, I, I, I, I will not fall
Without the hands of gravity
To see it all
My hand to cover up my eyes
To move inside
Suspended by my sense of self
Along the line
The river flows and so do I
And Charles Atlas stands upon the beach
Upon his head and says
I will not fall
I will not fall
I will not fall
To live the groove
Is everything that I need
To see you move
When grace is just a simple wisdom
To feel, to live
To speak the truth at every junction
To be with you
And with myself and my suspicion
And Charles Atlas stands upon the beach
Upon his head and says
I will not fall
I will not fall
I will not fall
And Charles Atlas stands upon the beach
Upon his head and says
I will not fall
I will not fall
I will not fall
I, I, I, I, I will not fall
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From "Point Break". Great movie.