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.
Spit fire like dragon, thinking them can escape
The works of William Gordon
Dem fire as Judas come, thinking them can ride on
The words of Marcus Garvey
(oh man de were) Filling up our heads with visions
while it's our souls on which they bargain
Live as they all live, blind as they are blind
They'll never know that, for this here price
We shall give our lives to them
Now did ya, did ya see dem ride into the war
Gone so long they call out to the one
Son I'm here for you they trapped him to belong,
When they were all
Standing at the foot of the moutain as we tried to
Warn them oh Jah Jah, we warn them
Still they come with their silver tongue show
Yes, and we chant them oh Rasta, we whant dem
They man come with their silver tongue show
(Good man say) You're just a string in the puppet show
Spit fire like dragon, thinking them can escape
The works of Mohandis Gandhi
Spit fire as Judas come, thinking them can destroy
The words of Bantu Biko
(oh man de were) Filling up our heads with visions
While it's our souls 'pon which they bargain
Oh the crisis de man light, the fittest de man fight,
They'll never know that
For this here price, we shall give our lives to them
Now did ya, did ya see dem ride into the war
Conquered us so long they hold their head up high
As them pray on the poor and juvenile
When they were all standing at the foot of the mountain
As we tried to warn them oh Jah Jah, we warn them
Still they come with their silver tongue show
Yes, and we chant them oh Rasta, we chant them
They man come with their silver tongue show
Chant them down, chant them down no they'll never know
Warn them oh Jah Jah, we warn them
Still they come with their silver tongue show
Yes, and we chant them oh Rasta, we chant them
They man come with their silver tongue show
(Good man say) You're just a string in the puppet show
The works of William Gordon
Dem fire as Judas come, thinking them can ride on
The words of Marcus Garvey
(oh man de were) Filling up our heads with visions
while it's our souls on which they bargain
Live as they all live, blind as they are blind
They'll never know that, for this here price
We shall give our lives to them
Now did ya, did ya see dem ride into the war
Gone so long they call out to the one
Son I'm here for you they trapped him to belong,
When they were all
Standing at the foot of the moutain as we tried to
Warn them oh Jah Jah, we warn them
Still they come with their silver tongue show
Yes, and we chant them oh Rasta, we whant dem
They man come with their silver tongue show
(Good man say) You're just a string in the puppet show
Spit fire like dragon, thinking them can escape
The works of Mohandis Gandhi
Spit fire as Judas come, thinking them can destroy
The words of Bantu Biko
(oh man de were) Filling up our heads with visions
While it's our souls 'pon which they bargain
Oh the crisis de man light, the fittest de man fight,
They'll never know that
For this here price, we shall give our lives to them
Now did ya, did ya see dem ride into the war
Conquered us so long they hold their head up high
As them pray on the poor and juvenile
When they were all standing at the foot of the mountain
As we tried to warn them oh Jah Jah, we warn them
Still they come with their silver tongue show
Yes, and we chant them oh Rasta, we chant them
They man come with their silver tongue show
Chant them down, chant them down no they'll never know
Warn them oh Jah Jah, we warn them
Still they come with their silver tongue show
Yes, and we chant them oh Rasta, we chant them
They man come with their silver tongue show
(Good man say) You're just a string in the puppet show
Lyrics submitted by acyeahman
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great song, love it when i first heard it. even though they are white guys from california they can still make great reggae music
They are outstanding live. Some of the best roots reggae I've ever heard.