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.
There's something pulling on my sleeve
Full of tension
There's something breathing down my neck
Full of tension
Now if you wanna take it to the hilt
You can take it till you tilt
Something pulling on my sleeve
Full of tension
Watchin' out my window at the people in the street
I try to keep it quiet
This feeling's got me beat
I can't contain myself no matter what I try
There's something breathing down my neck
Full of tension
A tiny hole burnt with a cigarette
Full of tension
And now I start to see the little spots
Stickin' to the wall and on the floor
Something pulling on my sleeve
Full of tension
Hup!
There's something tightening 'round my neck
Full of tension
There's something pulling on my sleeve
Full of tension
And I hear it knock-knock-knockin' at my door
I just can't take it anymore
Something pulling on my sleeve
Full of tension
Full of tension
Full of tension––tension
Stand at full attention!
Full of tension
There's something breathing down my neck
Full of tension
Now if you wanna take it to the hilt
You can take it till you tilt
Something pulling on my sleeve
Full of tension
Watchin' out my window at the people in the street
I try to keep it quiet
This feeling's got me beat
I can't contain myself no matter what I try
There's something breathing down my neck
Full of tension
A tiny hole burnt with a cigarette
Full of tension
And now I start to see the little spots
Stickin' to the wall and on the floor
Something pulling on my sleeve
Full of tension
Hup!
There's something tightening 'round my neck
Full of tension
There's something pulling on my sleeve
Full of tension
And I hear it knock-knock-knockin' at my door
I just can't take it anymore
Something pulling on my sleeve
Full of tension
Full of tension
Full of tension––tension
Stand at full attention!
Lyrics submitted by Heat
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How you feel all the time after you've done too many stimulants.