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.
Ask me, I'm fine or I will be
I got a bullet-proof vest on and the cure for AIDS
And a pill that makes me happy
Ask me, I'm fine or I will be
I've got the cure for loneliness
And a pill that makes all my problems resolved
I got a bullet-proof vest on
And I wiretapped your brain
I want to do this right
Dyno, dynomite
You should have just listened to your friends
You would have been over this by now
I thought we told each other to live in different worlds
Oh, you should have listened to your friends
You would have been over this by now, over this by now
(Well, sure it's complicated, but I still know)
Oh, there's only so much I can take
(That I can get frustrated and snort that blow)
But I guess we'll never really find out
Never really find out
Rate me and judge me on a graph that you drew
Hope I compare to the friends that left you for dead
I guess I'm not making myself perfectly clear
I guess I'm not making myself perfectly clear
How many times
How many times
How many times is this gonna happen?
How many times
How many times
How many times is this gonna happen?
I've got to blame all these people as fast as I motherfucking can
You were fooled, this ain't no fucking day job
Oh, you should have listened to your friends
You would have been over this by now, over this by now
(Well, sure it's complicated, but I still know)
Oh, there's only so much I can take
(That I can get frustrated and snort that blow)
But I guess we'll never really find out
Never really find out
Suddenly, we startle ourselves
Staring upon each other in silence, silence
To think this whole time, we're provoking each other in blinding violence
I got a bullet-proof vest on and the cure for AIDS
And a pill that makes me happy
Ask me, I'm fine or I will be
I've got the cure for loneliness
And a pill that makes all my problems resolved
I got a bullet-proof vest on
And I wiretapped your brain
I want to do this right
Dyno, dynomite
You should have just listened to your friends
You would have been over this by now
I thought we told each other to live in different worlds
Oh, you should have listened to your friends
You would have been over this by now, over this by now
(Well, sure it's complicated, but I still know)
Oh, there's only so much I can take
(That I can get frustrated and snort that blow)
But I guess we'll never really find out
Never really find out
Rate me and judge me on a graph that you drew
Hope I compare to the friends that left you for dead
I guess I'm not making myself perfectly clear
I guess I'm not making myself perfectly clear
How many times
How many times
How many times is this gonna happen?
How many times
How many times
How many times is this gonna happen?
I've got to blame all these people as fast as I motherfucking can
You were fooled, this ain't no fucking day job
Oh, you should have listened to your friends
You would have been over this by now, over this by now
(Well, sure it's complicated, but I still know)
Oh, there's only so much I can take
(That I can get frustrated and snort that blow)
But I guess we'll never really find out
Never really find out
Suddenly, we startle ourselves
Staring upon each other in silence, silence
To think this whole time, we're provoking each other in blinding violence
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
to Tendos,
i agree. i've been listening to their new songs more and more lately (since the last post) & i'm already comfortable with their new sound.
awesome.