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.
Sleep all day
Just waiting for the sun to set
I hang my clothes
Up on the line
When I die
I'll hang my head beside the willow tree
When I'm dead
Is when I'll be free
And you can take my body
Put it in a boat
Light it on fire
You can use the kerosene
Take my body
Put it in a boat
Light it on fire
Send it out to sea
Woo, woo
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Sleep all day
Just waiting for the sun to set
I hang my clothes
Up on the line
When I die
I hang my head beside the willow tree
When I'm dead
Is when I'll be free
So you can take my body
Put it in a boat
Light it on fire
Use the gasoline
Take my body
Put it in a boat
Light it on fire
Send it out to sea
Just waiting for the sun to set
I hang my clothes
Up on the line
When I die
I'll hang my head beside the willow tree
When I'm dead
Is when I'll be free
And you can take my body
Put it in a boat
Light it on fire
You can use the kerosene
Take my body
Put it in a boat
Light it on fire
Send it out to sea
Woo, woo
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Sleep all day
Just waiting for the sun to set
I hang my clothes
Up on the line
When I die
I hang my head beside the willow tree
When I'm dead
Is when I'll be free
So you can take my body
Put it in a boat
Light it on fire
Use the gasoline
Take my body
Put it in a boat
Light it on fire
Send it out to sea
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I love the lyrics and the melody but I can't bear his voice! He warbles and sounds so incredibly nervous it makes me squirm.