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 must modernize Jerusalem
Detonate the temples, let them fall over the dust
We will organize in Bethlehem
Able-bodied women and agnostic headstrong men
Oh, we'll meet at 10
If you lose your fear of God, you are an animal at heart
Oh
Show your teeth to everyone, don't let no one prove you wrong
You are an animal, an animal, an animal
Show your teeth to everyone, don't let no one prove you wrong
You are an animal, an animal, an animal
We must rearrange reality, shuffle all the cards
Pair the joker with the queen, just to make her scream
To destroy all our enemies, must investigate our friends
Find the ones who don't believe
Hang them from the trees
If you lose your fear of God, you are an animal at heart
Show your teeth to everyone, don't let no one prove you wrong
You are an animal, an animal, an animal
Show your teeth to everyone, don't let no one prove you wrong
You are an animal, an animal, an animal
Show your teeth to everyone, don't let no one prove you wrong
You are an animal, an animal, an animal
Show your teeth to everyone, don't let no one prove you wrong
You are an animal, an animal, an animal
Detonate the temples, let them fall over the dust
We will organize in Bethlehem
Able-bodied women and agnostic headstrong men
Oh, we'll meet at 10
If you lose your fear of God, you are an animal at heart
Oh
Show your teeth to everyone, don't let no one prove you wrong
You are an animal, an animal, an animal
Show your teeth to everyone, don't let no one prove you wrong
You are an animal, an animal, an animal
We must rearrange reality, shuffle all the cards
Pair the joker with the queen, just to make her scream
To destroy all our enemies, must investigate our friends
Find the ones who don't believe
Hang them from the trees
If you lose your fear of God, you are an animal at heart
Show your teeth to everyone, don't let no one prove you wrong
You are an animal, an animal, an animal
Show your teeth to everyone, don't let no one prove you wrong
You are an animal, an animal, an animal
Show your teeth to everyone, don't let no one prove you wrong
You are an animal, an animal, an animal
Show your teeth to everyone, don't let no one prove you wrong
You are an animal, an animal, an animal
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This is a beautiful songgg. Johnny Rice is a GOD!