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 sat there exposed to the wind and the thunder
Chilled to the bone, huddled together
You kissed me goodbye And I called God a liar
We snuck off like thieves with our backs to each other
After the rain
After the rain
When I think of you, you're half in the shadow
with a heart on your sleeve and a chain round your ankle
When I think of you, I can go where I want to
I just close my eyes and I wish myself back to
After the rain
After the rain
The days fall behind and I'm back in the saddle
I meant what I said, when I said that I'd follow you
down to the banks of that old Russian river
Where I took off my boots and walked in the water
After the rain
After the rain
Chilled to the bone, huddled together
You kissed me goodbye And I called God a liar
We snuck off like thieves with our backs to each other
After the rain
After the rain
When I think of you, you're half in the shadow
with a heart on your sleeve and a chain round your ankle
When I think of you, I can go where I want to
I just close my eyes and I wish myself back to
After the rain
After the rain
The days fall behind and I'm back in the saddle
I meant what I said, when I said that I'd follow you
down to the banks of that old Russian river
Where I took off my boots and walked in the water
After the rain
After the rain
Lyrics submitted by tenchlumeckyzamek
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