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.
A red priest broke into our classroom
Caught us children by attention
Listen closely to the words I speak
Lord knows if I'll ever, ever again be
Spoke such words never spoken before
On the way he declared the world
Miracles like you've never seen
From a man who was raised up in the sea
A man is coming in thirteen were
To charm the daughters and the sons
Scared for our lives I turn to your hand
Hold this time while we run if we still can
[Chorus]
What disasters may come
Whatever it may be
At the end of the age
It will land you and me
Tragedy may bring
Whatever may fall
At the end of the world
You'll still be loved
Before the red priest took his last breath
He told me child now don't forget
The sun will turn dark very soon
The days are numbered when there's blood on the moon
The earth will shake and the sky will fall
The ice will open up frozen ground
Don't take the son but you'll be killed
By the man from seven years
A man is coming in thirteen were
To charm the daughters and the sons
Scared for our lives I turn to your hand
Hold this time while we run if we still can
[Chorus]
Looked up into the eastern sky
When you hear the voice, say your last goodbyes
Look back to the eastern skies
When the ghost take hold of the men who died
Looked up into the eastern sky
When your fathers weep and your mothers cry
Looked up into the eastern sky
[Chorus]
Looked up into the eastern sky
When you hear the voice, say your last goodbyes
Look back to the eastern skies
When the ghost take hold of the men who died
Looked up into the eastern sky
When your fathers weep and your mothers cry
Looked up into the eastern sky
Look children to the eastern sky
Caught us children by attention
Listen closely to the words I speak
Lord knows if I'll ever, ever again be
Spoke such words never spoken before
On the way he declared the world
Miracles like you've never seen
From a man who was raised up in the sea
A man is coming in thirteen were
To charm the daughters and the sons
Scared for our lives I turn to your hand
Hold this time while we run if we still can
[Chorus]
What disasters may come
Whatever it may be
At the end of the age
It will land you and me
Tragedy may bring
Whatever may fall
At the end of the world
You'll still be loved
Before the red priest took his last breath
He told me child now don't forget
The sun will turn dark very soon
The days are numbered when there's blood on the moon
The earth will shake and the sky will fall
The ice will open up frozen ground
Don't take the son but you'll be killed
By the man from seven years
A man is coming in thirteen were
To charm the daughters and the sons
Scared for our lives I turn to your hand
Hold this time while we run if we still can
[Chorus]
Looked up into the eastern sky
When you hear the voice, say your last goodbyes
Look back to the eastern skies
When the ghost take hold of the men who died
Looked up into the eastern sky
When your fathers weep and your mothers cry
Looked up into the eastern sky
[Chorus]
Looked up into the eastern sky
When you hear the voice, say your last goodbyes
Look back to the eastern skies
When the ghost take hold of the men who died
Looked up into the eastern sky
When your fathers weep and your mothers cry
Looked up into the eastern sky
Look children to the eastern sky
Lyrics submitted by fallacyofdualism, edited by comp8088
Miserabile Visu (Ex Malo Bonum) Lyrics as written by Deon Rexroat Christian Edwin Mcalhaney
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, O/B/O DistroKid
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in the technical sense, they are a secular band with Christian member(s). but anywhoo, it's a good ending to the album.. didn't know it was speaking of Revelation until I read these lyrics. pretty cool.