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.
Paranoia is in bloom
The PR transmissions will resume
They'll try to push drugs that keep us all dumbed down
And hope that we will never see the truth around
(So come on)
Another promise, another seed
Another packaged lie to keep us trapped in greed
And all the green belts wrapped around our minds
And endless red tape to keep the truth confined
(So come on)
They will not force us
And they will stop degrading us
And they will not control us
And we will be victorious
(So come on)
Interchanging mind control
Come let the revolution take its toll
If you could flick a switch and open your third eye
You'd see that we should never be afraid to die
(So come on)
Rise up and take the power back
It's time the fat cats had a heart attack
You know that their time is coming to an end
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend
(So come on)
They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
And we will be victorious
(So come on)
(Hey, hey, hey, hey)
(Hey, hey, hey, hey)
(Hey, hey, hey, hey)
They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
And we will be victorious
(So come on)
(Hey, hey, hey, hey)
The PR transmissions will resume
They'll try to push drugs that keep us all dumbed down
And hope that we will never see the truth around
(So come on)
Another promise, another seed
Another packaged lie to keep us trapped in greed
And all the green belts wrapped around our minds
And endless red tape to keep the truth confined
(So come on)
They will not force us
And they will stop degrading us
And they will not control us
And we will be victorious
(So come on)
Interchanging mind control
Come let the revolution take its toll
If you could flick a switch and open your third eye
You'd see that we should never be afraid to die
(So come on)
Rise up and take the power back
It's time the fat cats had a heart attack
You know that their time is coming to an end
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend
(So come on)
They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
And we will be victorious
(So come on)
(Hey, hey, hey, hey)
(Hey, hey, hey, hey)
(Hey, hey, hey, hey)
They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
And we will be victorious
(So come on)
(Hey, hey, hey, hey)
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that's fabulous! You're right, every group can use it as an anthem; including groups that have the exact opposite political opinions of Muse! Personally I think Barack Obama should have used it as his campaign song in 2012 even though I know it has nothing to do with him. The line about the fat cats having a heart attack reminds me of Mitt Romney.