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.
We read the signs completely backwards
no one could see if we ended up
where we needed to be
to find out how it all works with
so many partners
and nobody wants, nobody wants to sit
behind the wheel, behind the wheel
Who's the one pounding the gears
avoiding the crowds
keeping their ear to the ground?
Oh I’ve made a mistake
I never learned how to get back to the place, ohhh
Where have all the signs gone?
I don't know where I am without them
in our lives
We made designs completely backwards
and nobody knows if we’re even close
to where we need to go
to find out how it all works with
so many artists and nobody
wants to sit behind the wheel, behind the wheel
(Get your own map)
Who's the one pounding the gears
avoiding the crowds, keeping their ear to the ground?
Oh I’ve made a mistake
I never learned how to get back to the place
where all our confidence kept us behind a shield
Only light could get through
where all our confidence kept us behind a shield
Only light could get through
Where have all the signs gone?
I don't know where I am without them
in our lives
no one could see if we ended up
where we needed to be
to find out how it all works with
so many partners
and nobody wants, nobody wants to sit
behind the wheel, behind the wheel
Who's the one pounding the gears
avoiding the crowds
keeping their ear to the ground?
Oh I’ve made a mistake
I never learned how to get back to the place, ohhh
Where have all the signs gone?
I don't know where I am without them
in our lives
We made designs completely backwards
and nobody knows if we’re even close
to where we need to go
to find out how it all works with
so many artists and nobody
wants to sit behind the wheel, behind the wheel
(Get your own map)
Who's the one pounding the gears
avoiding the crowds, keeping their ear to the ground?
Oh I’ve made a mistake
I never learned how to get back to the place
where all our confidence kept us behind a shield
Only light could get through
where all our confidence kept us behind a shield
Only light could get through
Where have all the signs gone?
I don't know where I am without them
in our lives
Lyrics submitted by tyrstyrgdtrdygtdyrh
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I agree, I think narrowing it to be just about the record label is over-simplifying it. Atlantic didnt really change thier sound drastically anyways, so I doubt they really have too much regret over that. It seems more general life questioning and doubts.