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'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go for you
I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight for you
I'll kill, I'll kill, I'll kill, I'll kill for you
I will, I will, I will
I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go for you
I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight for you
I'll die, I'll die, I'll die, I'll die for you
I will, I will, I will
And if I die, I'll die, I'll die alone
On some forgotten hill, abandoned by the mill
All my blood will spring and spill
I'll crash the air and be still
You'll wait with the star from a dream
And know that I am gone
You'll feel it in your heart
But not for very long
You'll rise each day as planned
Your will is your command
And stand each Sunday
A hymnal steady in your hand
And you'll sing to yourself
The rising falling melody
That you could never read
Without the choirs' lead
Still alone and lost in deep
And your soul will not be free
I will go, I will go, I will go
And in wars waters I will wade
And I will know if I remorse or regret
The fairness of our trade
For you to live, I took your place
A deal was made and I was paid
And the goal as I was told
Was a place where my body could be laid
And we will steal your life
And I own in better homes surrounded
By your peers, without suffering or fear
Grandchildren far and near
And none will shed a tear
For the love no longer here
I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go for you
I will
I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight for you
I will, I will, I will
I'll kill, I'll kill, I'll kill, I'll kill for you
I will
I'll die, I'll die, I'll die, I'll die for you
I will, I will, I will
And if I die, I'll die, I'll die alone like Jesus
On a cross
My faith cannot by tossed
And my life will not be lost
If my love comes across
I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight for you
I'll kill, I'll kill, I'll kill, I'll kill for you
I will, I will, I will
I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go for you
I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight for you
I'll die, I'll die, I'll die, I'll die for you
I will, I will, I will
And if I die, I'll die, I'll die alone
On some forgotten hill, abandoned by the mill
All my blood will spring and spill
I'll crash the air and be still
You'll wait with the star from a dream
And know that I am gone
You'll feel it in your heart
But not for very long
You'll rise each day as planned
Your will is your command
And stand each Sunday
A hymnal steady in your hand
And you'll sing to yourself
The rising falling melody
That you could never read
Without the choirs' lead
Still alone and lost in deep
And your soul will not be free
I will go, I will go, I will go
And in wars waters I will wade
And I will know if I remorse or regret
The fairness of our trade
For you to live, I took your place
A deal was made and I was paid
And the goal as I was told
Was a place where my body could be laid
And we will steal your life
And I own in better homes surrounded
By your peers, without suffering or fear
Grandchildren far and near
And none will shed a tear
For the love no longer here
I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go for you
I will
I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight for you
I will, I will, I will
I'll kill, I'll kill, I'll kill, I'll kill for you
I will
I'll die, I'll die, I'll die, I'll die for you
I will, I will, I will
And if I die, I'll die, I'll die alone like Jesus
On a cross
My faith cannot by tossed
And my life will not be lost
If my love comes across
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In an interview in the new Relevant Magazine, Jeff Tweedy says that the song is told fromt he point of view of a Civil War soldier who was paid to fight as a substitute for a wealthy man (a common practice.) He's now about to die and is writing to the man who paid him to fight. Tweedy also said this song was written without judgment either on the speaker or the man who paid him.
Also, this song originally had an unmanagable number of verses (14? I don't remember.)