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.
Here we are bending feet
In the dark before dreamless sleep
Cloaks that spot, that shiver, that breeze
Throws you in the dark
Happiness it won't last long
And this child behind stores it all
The failed man's curse and the cost
Of noncholance
Thank you sly watchful gene
A plastic life up my sleeve
If you've followed this far you've realised nothing
Now your world is here
Watch it disappear
Abacus haunting me
Abacus watching me
And it all plays out
And it always comes around
The message fades but the mess prevails
You reckless thing leaving you in our hands
Abacus haunting me
Abacus watching me
All we have is this chance called memory
In the dark before dreamless sleep
Cloaks that spot, that shiver, that breeze
Throws you in the dark
Happiness it won't last long
And this child behind stores it all
The failed man's curse and the cost
Of noncholance
Thank you sly watchful gene
A plastic life up my sleeve
If you've followed this far you've realised nothing
Now your world is here
Watch it disappear
Abacus haunting me
Abacus watching me
And it all plays out
And it always comes around
The message fades but the mess prevails
You reckless thing leaving you in our hands
Abacus haunting me
Abacus watching me
All we have is this chance called memory
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VERY clever lyrics here! Great song! Here is what I think this song means:
It's about someone who lives under the motto of "carpe diem" and misinterprets the true meaning of the phrase and just lives life sensually. They simply see life as a "heavy abacus" that ticks the seconds of their life away. They think that living a fake "plastic" life crazily and recklessly will make them feel that they are living their live to the fullest. However, as time and the person's life keeps passing by,the abacus gets heavier and heavier, haunting them more and more, regardless of how much they pursue such a reckless lifestyle. The superficial happiness wares off quicker and quicker, and at the end of everyday, the person looks at them self in the mirror and realizes that they aren't happy, so it leads them to want to party even harder than they did the day before.
This person doesn't realize, however, that "seize the day" truly means (in my opinion) that you should make the most out of every day by doing what you WANT, and not just pursuing every whim and impulse that you have without thinking twice about it. I've seen alot of people use the terms "impulse/whim" and "wish/dream" interchangeably. I guess the person in this song is one of those people!
It's good to see a new band have creativity nowadays! I' excited to see more great stuff from The Joy Formidable in the years to come!! :)