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.
Piece it all together now
Because I sell myself short every time
Oh
How you became my life
You took me in before I could back out
Well I still have faith
It will start again
Oh, I still have faith
Well I'm about to spend my cold life
Cutting corners, placing blame
Any moment this could catch fire
Erasing all the stains
So here's to starting over
We could be the same
We'll change it all together
The future's mine to claim
Claim
Mine to claim
You can't get out
Fear, couldn't place its hands on us my dear
My pride has dropped
Because I couldn't sell short myself this time
String it along
Say you'll love me either way
Well I'm about to spend my cold life
Cutting corners, placing blame
Any moment this could catch fire
Erasing all the stains
So here's to starting over
We could be the same
We'll change it all together
The future's mine to claim
Seeing past
It's about time I asked for more
Watching my life, at the distance we have come
While I bled
While I've learned
But I always seem to give up on my self (self, self, self, self)
String it along (love, love, love, love)
Say you'll love me either way (self, self, self, self)
Say you'll love me any way (self, self, self, self)
While I'm alone (love, love , love, love)
Say you'll love me either way (self, self, self, self, love, love, love, love)
Mine to claim
Claim!
Well I'm about to spend my cold life
Cutting corners, placing blame
Any moment this could catch fire
Erasing all the stains
So here's to starting over
We could be the same
We'll change it all together
The future's mine to claim
Because I sell myself short every time
Oh
How you became my life
You took me in before I could back out
Well I still have faith
It will start again
Oh, I still have faith
Well I'm about to spend my cold life
Cutting corners, placing blame
Any moment this could catch fire
Erasing all the stains
So here's to starting over
We could be the same
We'll change it all together
The future's mine to claim
Claim
Mine to claim
You can't get out
Fear, couldn't place its hands on us my dear
My pride has dropped
Because I couldn't sell short myself this time
String it along
Say you'll love me either way
Well I'm about to spend my cold life
Cutting corners, placing blame
Any moment this could catch fire
Erasing all the stains
So here's to starting over
We could be the same
We'll change it all together
The future's mine to claim
Seeing past
It's about time I asked for more
Watching my life, at the distance we have come
While I bled
While I've learned
But I always seem to give up on my self (self, self, self, self)
String it along (love, love, love, love)
Say you'll love me either way (self, self, self, self)
Say you'll love me any way (self, self, self, self)
While I'm alone (love, love , love, love)
Say you'll love me either way (self, self, self, self, love, love, love, love)
Mine to claim
Claim!
Well I'm about to spend my cold life
Cutting corners, placing blame
Any moment this could catch fire
Erasing all the stains
So here's to starting over
We could be the same
We'll change it all together
The future's mine to claim
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"Watching my life, at the distance we have come While I bled, while I've learned But I always seem to give up on my self"
It's: "Watching my life, and the distance we have come, Well I've lived, well I've learned, But I always seem to give up on myself." (: