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.
Step up, step up, then get down
What's up? What's up?
Turn around
Take this, take this, for all to see
Don't piss on me baby
Warriors of chaos fightin' a battle
Slaughtering each other
Like they're motherfuckin' cattle
Holdin' down the trigger
Sprayin' destruction
Battlefield is supercharged
Like NO2 induction
Death and pain
Is lyin' on the ground
Shoutin' out for help
But no help can be found
Fat man atomic B-O-M-B
Slams into the ground
Just in time for you to see
The mushroom cloud
Rising above your head
When the shock-wave hits
You're ass is just as good as dead
And vaporized, like a sci-fi laser
Charred to the bone like a million-volt taser
Phazer, it'll amaze her. Chaos is comin'
You can bet it will phase her
Like a crash test gone wrong
Dummy through the window
And the dummy's singin' your song
The company fled a river of red
Load, cock, bang
There's a hole in your head
And now you're dead
From the lead you're fed that bled dread
There's nothin' left to do but
Make a coffin your bed I said
Break it down to the underground
Break it down town and all around
Take down, shake down
Break it, shake it, take it, don't fake it
Fist against your face and
Your face won't make it
What's up? What's up?
Turn around
Take this, take this, for all to see
Don't piss on me baby
Warriors of chaos fightin' a battle
Slaughtering each other
Like they're motherfuckin' cattle
Holdin' down the trigger
Sprayin' destruction
Battlefield is supercharged
Like NO2 induction
Death and pain
Is lyin' on the ground
Shoutin' out for help
But no help can be found
Fat man atomic B-O-M-B
Slams into the ground
Just in time for you to see
The mushroom cloud
Rising above your head
When the shock-wave hits
You're ass is just as good as dead
And vaporized, like a sci-fi laser
Charred to the bone like a million-volt taser
Phazer, it'll amaze her. Chaos is comin'
You can bet it will phase her
Like a crash test gone wrong
Dummy through the window
And the dummy's singin' your song
The company fled a river of red
Load, cock, bang
There's a hole in your head
And now you're dead
From the lead you're fed that bled dread
There's nothin' left to do but
Make a coffin your bed I said
Break it down to the underground
Break it down town and all around
Take down, shake down
Break it, shake it, take it, don't fake it
Fist against your face and
Your face won't make it
Lyrics submitted by BleedorBreathe
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