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.
Look at you just own the room, you're a star inside your town
The night is ending with a boom, you're the brightest light around
And I don't think it's easy, and I know it's not right
So why is it I'm aching to get you all alone outside?
Too many choices
Turn my heart into an up and down escalator
Too many voices
I'm gonna listen to the wrong one sooner or later
Too many crossroads
And I'm standing in the middle and I'm looking up at North and South
So I stick to the back roads
And I close my eyes, and I close my mind
And I close my mouth
Confessions falling from my lips, I never, ever wanted this
The confusion setting in, the demons crawling through my skin
And I know that it ain't easy, 'cause I won't live with lies, no, no
So why is it I'm aching to get you all alone tonight?
Too many choices
Turn my heart into an up and down escalator
Too many voices
I'm gonna listen to the wrong one sooner or later
Too many crossroads
And I'm standing in the middle and I'm looking up at North and South
So I stick to the back roads
And I close my eyes, and I close my mind
And I close my mouth (x2)
The night is ending with a boom, you're the brightest light around
And I don't think it's easy, and I know it's not right
So why is it I'm aching to get you all alone outside?
Too many choices
Turn my heart into an up and down escalator
Too many voices
I'm gonna listen to the wrong one sooner or later
Too many crossroads
And I'm standing in the middle and I'm looking up at North and South
So I stick to the back roads
And I close my eyes, and I close my mind
And I close my mouth
Confessions falling from my lips, I never, ever wanted this
The confusion setting in, the demons crawling through my skin
And I know that it ain't easy, 'cause I won't live with lies, no, no
So why is it I'm aching to get you all alone tonight?
Too many choices
Turn my heart into an up and down escalator
Too many voices
I'm gonna listen to the wrong one sooner or later
Too many crossroads
And I'm standing in the middle and I'm looking up at North and South
So I stick to the back roads
And I close my eyes, and I close my mind
And I close my mouth (x2)
Lyrics submitted by bananahero
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