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.
once, anchor(anger?) ride
took it on
all despite
watch and see
what it had done
now its something
you don't want
take, take the road
hold tight
don't let go
watch it fall
watch it land
watch it die
watch it stand
take from the night
give it back
run and hide
now at your door
uninvited back for more
with its fingers
in your mouth
the familiar
on your tongue
and its blood
under your skin
its intentions
in your hands
take from the night
give it back
run and hide
take from the night
give it back
run and hide
took it on
all despite
watch and see
what it had done
now its something
you don't want
take, take the road
hold tight
don't let go
watch it fall
watch it land
watch it die
watch it stand
take from the night
give it back
run and hide
now at your door
uninvited back for more
with its fingers
in your mouth
the familiar
on your tongue
and its blood
under your skin
its intentions
in your hands
take from the night
give it back
run and hide
take from the night
give it back
run and hide
Lyrics submitted by linkinn
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corrected first part:
Once Anchorite Took it on All despite What you’d seen What it had done Now it’s something You don’t want
Take Take the rope Hold it tight Don’t let go Watch a fall Watch a land Watch it die Watch it stand