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.
The best years of his life, is what he gave to you.
Never late a day, he's been faithful and true.
Putting out the tombstones and digging down the graves.
For over thirty years now and I can't believe you have the nerve to say, that you're gonna have to cut his pay.
'Cause one of your priests did such an awful thing.
Lightning bolt, oh lightning bolt, why don't you strike them down?
For what they did they deserve to be a black spot in the ground.
And if there is a god, up there in the clouds, I can't imagine a better time to show his wrath than now.
Somehow, these monsters all seem higher than the law.
They won't see any punishment at all.
He didn't give a damn about your god or your church.
He was just an honest man looking for some honest work.
And in his little finger, he has more purity, than a whole church-load full of your child-molesting priests.
It seems you're making him pay for the guilty sins.
Thirty years, and that's the thanks he gets.
It's hard to imagine there could be a greater sin,
Than using your trust for abusing a kid.
As hard as it may seem, well I think that there is and you're committing it, by protecting these old evil men.
And if there really is a judgement day, you'll have a whole lot to explain.
Lightning bolt, oh lightning bolt, why don't you strike them down?
For what they did they deserve to be a black spot in the ground.
And if there is a god, waiting up there in the clouds, I can't imagine a better time to show his wrath than now.
Somehow, these monsters all seem higher than the law.
They won't see any punishment at all
Never late a day, he's been faithful and true.
Putting out the tombstones and digging down the graves.
For over thirty years now and I can't believe you have the nerve to say, that you're gonna have to cut his pay.
'Cause one of your priests did such an awful thing.
Lightning bolt, oh lightning bolt, why don't you strike them down?
For what they did they deserve to be a black spot in the ground.
And if there is a god, up there in the clouds, I can't imagine a better time to show his wrath than now.
Somehow, these monsters all seem higher than the law.
They won't see any punishment at all.
He didn't give a damn about your god or your church.
He was just an honest man looking for some honest work.
And in his little finger, he has more purity, than a whole church-load full of your child-molesting priests.
It seems you're making him pay for the guilty sins.
Thirty years, and that's the thanks he gets.
It's hard to imagine there could be a greater sin,
Than using your trust for abusing a kid.
As hard as it may seem, well I think that there is and you're committing it, by protecting these old evil men.
And if there really is a judgement day, you'll have a whole lot to explain.
Lightning bolt, oh lightning bolt, why don't you strike them down?
For what they did they deserve to be a black spot in the ground.
And if there is a god, waiting up there in the clouds, I can't imagine a better time to show his wrath than now.
Somehow, these monsters all seem higher than the law.
They won't see any punishment at all
Lyrics submitted by BobGnarly
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Ghost Mice cover from their split.