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.
Outside, just killing time and making noise
Outside, the daylight comes, the daylight goes
Weightless affairs that weigh less than air weighs
Make no stairways, just stairs, goes nowhere
Don’t dream that it’s a dream it is what it seems
That it’s a dream it is what it seems
Climbing from over-stimulated states
To hearing cold radio and license plates
But don’t dream that it’s a dream it is what it seems
That it’s a dream it is what is seems
Behind every desire is another one
Waiting to be liberated when the first one’s sated
Waterskiing, the water’s soft, the water’s hard
You act nice, a black birthday card, I threw it away
Grown-up life is like eating speed or flying a plane
It’s too bright, it’s too bright
White and black hats
Hide behind each other’s backs
All the time
Behind every desire is another one
Waiting to be liberated when the first one’s sated
Outside, the daylight comes, the daylight goes
Weightless affairs that weigh less than air weighs
Make no stairways, just stairs, goes nowhere
Don’t dream that it’s a dream it is what it seems
That it’s a dream it is what it seems
Climbing from over-stimulated states
To hearing cold radio and license plates
But don’t dream that it’s a dream it is what it seems
That it’s a dream it is what is seems
Behind every desire is another one
Waiting to be liberated when the first one’s sated
Waterskiing, the water’s soft, the water’s hard
You act nice, a black birthday card, I threw it away
Grown-up life is like eating speed or flying a plane
It’s too bright, it’s too bright
White and black hats
Hide behind each other’s backs
All the time
Behind every desire is another one
Waiting to be liberated when the first one’s sated
Lyrics submitted by gm50
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I just checked a very clean live performance, and there is little doubt in my mind that he says "White and black hats"
It's a secret to everyone, I guess.