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.
With the skeleton frame laid out
Its shame was just to stay awake all night
Was it the last thing on your mind
Smoke travels along the thoughts
Of the old tree that could be falling down on us
So you could say you tried
But the dancer gave you no reward
You were standing on your broken toes all night
Witchy park done us wrong this time
We were talking like we knew the words
You could only guess can't you see the mess we're in
Witchy park done us wrong again
Witchy park done us wrong again
Summer is through some other arms around me
Like sheets would grow too full
Windows are fast to close
The suns gonna come down faster than the words reply
We talk and talk all night
In the morning it wont sound wrong
But the dancer gave you no reward
You were standing on your broken toes all night
Witchy park done us wrong this time
We were talking like we knew the words
You could only guess can't you see the mess we're in
Witchy park done us wrong again
Witchy park done us wrong again
Its shame was just to stay awake all night
Was it the last thing on your mind
Smoke travels along the thoughts
Of the old tree that could be falling down on us
So you could say you tried
But the dancer gave you no reward
You were standing on your broken toes all night
Witchy park done us wrong this time
We were talking like we knew the words
You could only guess can't you see the mess we're in
Witchy park done us wrong again
Witchy park done us wrong again
Summer is through some other arms around me
Like sheets would grow too full
Windows are fast to close
The suns gonna come down faster than the words reply
We talk and talk all night
In the morning it wont sound wrong
But the dancer gave you no reward
You were standing on your broken toes all night
Witchy park done us wrong this time
We were talking like we knew the words
You could only guess can't you see the mess we're in
Witchy park done us wrong again
Witchy park done us wrong again
Lyrics submitted by iangurteen
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Hello (again) well I think you're right about 'along' rather than 'or longer'. Smoke rather than small? You're probably right there too although I'm not 100% sure, but I'll change that too. As for the second line, there's definitely a "that" in there, partly covered by the backing singer saying "old tree" - I really think it is OLD, so I'll leave that line the same. Thaks for your contibutions, I was thinking I was the only listener out there!!