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.
I was in the classroom after school,
Working on the chalkboard once again.
You were in your uniform,
Standing by the door,
When I saw you,
Saw you there.
You were wondering if I'd walk you home
Even though I lived on the opposite side,
I said sure I don't need to home soon anyway,
Anyway.
Oh textbook love,
Textbook love,
Hold my little hand baby.
I started to wear my dad's cologne,
Started combin my hair to the side,
Anything I could do,
Just to keep your attention on me.
But I was just a phantom passin by,
When you were on the track home with you friends.
I was nobody at all,
I just needed an answer baby.
Textbook love,
Textbook love,
Hold my little hand baby.
Textbook Love.
You were the little girl,
I was dreamin' of.
Hold my little hand baby.
Never will I know what you saw in me,
Surely knew exactly what I saw in you.
Thinking back now,
I'm sure that was the only attraction.
Textbook love,
with a textbook style.
Textbook girl,
With a textbook smile.
Textbook love,
When I was on my way to redemption.
Textbook love,
Textbook love,
Hold my little hand baby.
Textbook Love.
You were the little girl,
I was dreamin' of.
Hold my little hand baby.
Lord it's a shame I know,
Thinking of how it could go.
Hold my little hand baby.
[X2]
Working on the chalkboard once again.
You were in your uniform,
Standing by the door,
When I saw you,
Saw you there.
You were wondering if I'd walk you home
Even though I lived on the opposite side,
I said sure I don't need to home soon anyway,
Anyway.
Oh textbook love,
Textbook love,
Hold my little hand baby.
I started to wear my dad's cologne,
Started combin my hair to the side,
Anything I could do,
Just to keep your attention on me.
But I was just a phantom passin by,
When you were on the track home with you friends.
I was nobody at all,
I just needed an answer baby.
Textbook love,
Textbook love,
Hold my little hand baby.
Textbook Love.
You were the little girl,
I was dreamin' of.
Hold my little hand baby.
Never will I know what you saw in me,
Surely knew exactly what I saw in you.
Thinking back now,
I'm sure that was the only attraction.
Textbook love,
with a textbook style.
Textbook girl,
With a textbook smile.
Textbook love,
When I was on my way to redemption.
Textbook love,
Textbook love,
Hold my little hand baby.
Textbook Love.
You were the little girl,
I was dreamin' of.
Hold my little hand baby.
Lord it's a shame I know,
Thinking of how it could go.
Hold my little hand baby.
[X2]
Lyrics submitted by wonderfulmetropolis
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this song is so unbelievably sexy!