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 can taste the blood on your lips and on your tongue
I can see your teeth turned pink, your gums fade to white
The less and less I eat
The more you see my teeth
The closer they move together
Fill the gaps, curse the weather
Rip the flesh from your bones
Wipe me down, drive me home
Dump me side of the road if I'm too annoying
Wear your best suit, all these people are watching
Oh baby, you'll need all those fingers for crossing
I'm sucking your last words from the back of your throat
So perfect, so bitter, we laugh then we choke
Wear your best suit, all these people are watching
Oh baby, you'll need all those fingers for crossing
I'm sucking your last words from the back of your throat
So perfect, so bitter, we laugh then we choke
You worry a million rain drops will die
With their last memory of you and I
In a soft-porn version of the end of the world
I quake at the knees as my intentions unfurl
You wrote a letter to god, just in case, you said
I'm nothing if I'm not a pragmatist
You needn't worry about us
We can look after ourselves
We have learnt not to rely on you or anyone else
Wear your best suit, all these people are watching
Oh baby, you'll need all those fingers for crossing
I'm sucking your last words from the back of your throat
So perfect, so bitter, we laugh then we choke
Wear your best suit, all these people are watching
Oh baby, you'll need all those fingers for crossing
I'm sucking your last words from the back of your throat
So perfect, so bitter, we laugh then we choke
I can see your teeth turned pink, your gums fade to white
The less and less I eat
The more you see my teeth
The closer they move together
Fill the gaps, curse the weather
Rip the flesh from your bones
Wipe me down, drive me home
Dump me side of the road if I'm too annoying
Wear your best suit, all these people are watching
Oh baby, you'll need all those fingers for crossing
I'm sucking your last words from the back of your throat
So perfect, so bitter, we laugh then we choke
Wear your best suit, all these people are watching
Oh baby, you'll need all those fingers for crossing
I'm sucking your last words from the back of your throat
So perfect, so bitter, we laugh then we choke
You worry a million rain drops will die
With their last memory of you and I
In a soft-porn version of the end of the world
I quake at the knees as my intentions unfurl
You wrote a letter to god, just in case, you said
I'm nothing if I'm not a pragmatist
You needn't worry about us
We can look after ourselves
We have learnt not to rely on you or anyone else
Wear your best suit, all these people are watching
Oh baby, you'll need all those fingers for crossing
I'm sucking your last words from the back of your throat
So perfect, so bitter, we laugh then we choke
Wear your best suit, all these people are watching
Oh baby, you'll need all those fingers for crossing
I'm sucking your last words from the back of your throat
So perfect, so bitter, we laugh then we choke
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I don't think that was meant to be taken literally myself.