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.
V1
She blew into our lives
We didn't want her here
She broke us down and
stole from us
And now we live in fear
V2
The trees started blowing
The water was rising
Our tears started flowing
Why wouldn't you
stop our crying?
Chorus 1
Do you remember
On that August day?
The promises you made to us
To care for us, be
there for us
Instead you turned away
Do you remember on
that August day
The promises you made?
Do you remember?
The Promise!
V3
So why did you leave us
So broken and afraid
We believed in you
To see us through
And send for us right away
V4
Innocence was lost that day
By people who believed
Your promises to care for us,
In our time of need
Repeat Chorus 1
Chorus 2
We can't go back to yesterday
We'll never be the same
Our lives are changed forever
Because of broken promises
Do you remember on
that August day
The promises you made?
Do you remember?
If only you came
She blew into our lives
We didn't want her here
She broke us down and
stole from us
And now we live in fear
V2
The trees started blowing
The water was rising
Our tears started flowing
Why wouldn't you
stop our crying?
Chorus 1
Do you remember
On that August day?
The promises you made to us
To care for us, be
there for us
Instead you turned away
Do you remember on
that August day
The promises you made?
Do you remember?
The Promise!
V3
So why did you leave us
So broken and afraid
We believed in you
To see us through
And send for us right away
V4
Innocence was lost that day
By people who believed
Your promises to care for us,
In our time of need
Repeat Chorus 1
Chorus 2
We can't go back to yesterday
We'll never be the same
Our lives are changed forever
Because of broken promises
Do you remember on
that August day
The promises you made?
Do you remember?
If only you came
Lyrics submitted by melodymaker
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This is probably my favorite Brianna song. She wrote it after Hurricane Katrina, after she and her family had lost their home. It's a pretty good song.