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.
Give up or give it a shot
Dedication, to the places that you never need to hide
Occupations, the opportunity to see yourself in our lights
And all the city fires
And the tabloid lies
And the television guides
For the missions and the boulevards
And the way it is when money's all you got
Stop and stare
At the accidents and stars that bore you
We don't dare sing another song for California
Well anywhere
Where the city lights are hopeless for you
We don't care or need another song for California
Shut up and give me a shot
On vacation, to the places that you never want to die
On the station, everybody hears but no one needs to try
On the telephone, on the methadone
Every minute that you scream
For the errant scars and the dying stars
Every second that you take to fake your life
Stop and stare
At the accidents and stars that bore you
We don't dare sing another song for California
Well anywhere
Where the city lights are hopeless for you
We don't care or need another song for California
Stop and stare
At the accidents and stars that bore you
We don't dare sing another song for California
Well anywhere
Where the city lights are hopeless for you
We don't care or need another song for California
Dedication, to the places that you never need to hide
Occupations, the opportunity to see yourself in our lights
And all the city fires
And the tabloid lies
And the television guides
For the missions and the boulevards
And the way it is when money's all you got
Stop and stare
At the accidents and stars that bore you
We don't dare sing another song for California
Well anywhere
Where the city lights are hopeless for you
We don't care or need another song for California
Shut up and give me a shot
On vacation, to the places that you never want to die
On the station, everybody hears but no one needs to try
On the telephone, on the methadone
Every minute that you scream
For the errant scars and the dying stars
Every second that you take to fake your life
Stop and stare
At the accidents and stars that bore you
We don't dare sing another song for California
Well anywhere
Where the city lights are hopeless for you
We don't care or need another song for California
Stop and stare
At the accidents and stars that bore you
We don't dare sing another song for California
Well anywhere
Where the city lights are hopeless for you
We don't care or need another song for California
Lyrics submitted by brubens, edited by SmashingDestiny
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