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.
Know that I love you more than I can show
Most of my feelings I push down below
Call up your savior and tell him I'm cold
Cuz this world is a strange place to live
Know that I love you more than I can say
These arms wanna hold you, but I push you away
Ask how I'm doing, and I'll say I am okay
But the truth is I'm caving in
Cuz this world is a strange place to live
Know that I love you more than you can see
I get a bit overwhelmed with the noise around me
I was told there was hope here if I came with a dream
But this world is a strange place to live
Know that I love you more than I act
But the weight of this world well it's breaking my back
And I'll fight to my death if it'll prove to you that
The good guys will maybe still win
No, don't you ever give in
Though this world is a strange place to live
Know that I love you more than you can know
I may have to leave here, but I won't let you go
Most of my feelings I push down below
Call up your savior and tell him I'm cold
Cuz this world is a strange place to live
Know that I love you more than I can say
These arms wanna hold you, but I push you away
Ask how I'm doing, and I'll say I am okay
But the truth is I'm caving in
Cuz this world is a strange place to live
Know that I love you more than you can see
I get a bit overwhelmed with the noise around me
I was told there was hope here if I came with a dream
But this world is a strange place to live
Know that I love you more than I act
But the weight of this world well it's breaking my back
And I'll fight to my death if it'll prove to you that
The good guys will maybe still win
No, don't you ever give in
Though this world is a strange place to live
Know that I love you more than you can know
I may have to leave here, but I won't let you go
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i love this song so much, at first the digitalized voice sounded wrong, then after the first line it all just fit.