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.
Lover, I don't play to win
Befall the thrill until I'm spent
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
I threw flowers in your face on my sister's wedding day
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
You showed up with a black eye looking to go start a fight
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
Playboys under your mattress, like I wouldn't notice
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
What do I share?
What do I keep from all the strangers who sleep where I sleep
Desperate don't look good on you, neither does your virtue
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
Good souls have won better sons, better sons were worse once
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
What do I share?
What do I keep from all the stranger who sleep where I sleep
You showed up with a black eye looking to finish a fight
Lover, I don't play to win
Befall the thrill until I'm spent
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
Befall the thrill until I'm spent
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
I threw flowers in your face on my sister's wedding day
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
You showed up with a black eye looking to go start a fight
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
Playboys under your mattress, like I wouldn't notice
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
What do I share?
What do I keep from all the strangers who sleep where I sleep
Desperate don't look good on you, neither does your virtue
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
Good souls have won better sons, better sons were worse once
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
What do I share?
What do I keep from all the stranger who sleep where I sleep
You showed up with a black eye looking to finish a fight
Lover, I don't play to win
Befall the thrill until I'm spent
Paint the black hole blacker
Paint the black hole blacker
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I think third to last verse should be:
Good souls have won better sons Better sons won worse ones