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.
(E/Parthenon Huxley)
Tarot cards
Said I'm already dead
Crystal ball
Fell down onto my head
Tenderness
If I want it I pay
My true love
Well she threw it away
CHORUS
But I can shine it all on
I can shine it all on
I can shine it all on
And still be amazed
Had some money
And a hole in my pocket
Had a house
But I forgot to lock it
Took a drag
>From a smoke that may kill me
What a drag
How the winter wind chills me
CHORUS
I'll shine it on just like MacBeth
In the face of certain death
Of a salesman or a king
And when the palm trees are on fire
I'll take my boat out on the sea
Had a face
But I never could save it
Hada kid
But I never would name it
Have a life
Well, that's what they call it
It's a road
But I guess I could crawl it
CHORUS
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Tarot cards
Said I'm already dead
Crystal ball
Fell down onto my head
Tenderness
If I want it I pay
My true love
Well she threw it away
CHORUS
But I can shine it all on
I can shine it all on
I can shine it all on
And still be amazed
Had some money
And a hole in my pocket
Had a house
But I forgot to lock it
Took a drag
>From a smoke that may kill me
What a drag
How the winter wind chills me
CHORUS
I'll shine it on just like MacBeth
In the face of certain death
Of a salesman or a king
And when the palm trees are on fire
I'll take my boat out on the sea
Had a face
But I never could save it
Hada kid
But I never would name it
Have a life
Well, that's what they call it
It's a road
But I guess I could crawl it
CHORUS
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Lyrics submitted by silentsinger, edited by M4TTY, spider123
Shine Lyrics as written by Benjamin Francis Leftwich
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think that basically in this song he's telling a girl that he hopes she'll find true love, and he's making her aware of the fact that he might be the guy to give her that.