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.
Oh you
Screamed Hallelujah darling,
startled all the sleeping Starlins on the wire.
As we walked up the footpath through the fields,
how the rain did reveal your heart.
And the rope swing from the balance held the weight,
shadows fall and a cold wind blows.
And you said oh maybe we're just lost souls here,
maybe oh everybody goes.
Oh we were
Young oh ho we were young. Oh we were
Young oh ho we were young.
Still don't, don't you forget.
That rope you tied around your neck.
Don't free you darling, oh oh ho oh ho oh
Don't free you darling, oh oh ho oh ho oh
And it took them three days to find you,
tired torch lights and dog scents.
Oh they led you down from the highest branches,
cold eyes and frozen arms.
And my my my your beauty was so dumbfounded,
lace white dress and your hair as long as Follaton Woods.
And the whole town just stood there crying looking at the darkness,
for something wholesome and good.
Oh good, oh ho oh oh.
Oh good, oh ho oh oh.
Still don't, don't you forget.
That rope you tied around your neck.
Don't free you darling, oh oh ho oh ho oh
Don't free you darling, oh oh ho oh ho oh
Hums
Morning white mist came across the plane,
blue skies and rain.
Oh and it was the strangest day,
people taking cover people holding shame.
Oh you'd left your
Heart oh ho oh ho oh. Oh you'd left your
Heart oh ho oh ho oh. Oh you'd left your
Heart oh ho oh ho oh. Oh you'd left your
Heart oh ho oh ho oh. Oh you'd left your
Heart oh.
You woulda laughed your heart ah ah ah out.
Screamed Hallelujah darling,
startled all the sleeping Starlins on the wire.
As we walked up the footpath through the fields,
how the rain did reveal your heart.
And the rope swing from the balance held the weight,
shadows fall and a cold wind blows.
And you said oh maybe we're just lost souls here,
maybe oh everybody goes.
Oh we were
Young oh ho we were young. Oh we were
Young oh ho we were young.
Still don't, don't you forget.
That rope you tied around your neck.
Don't free you darling, oh oh ho oh ho oh
Don't free you darling, oh oh ho oh ho oh
And it took them three days to find you,
tired torch lights and dog scents.
Oh they led you down from the highest branches,
cold eyes and frozen arms.
And my my my your beauty was so dumbfounded,
lace white dress and your hair as long as Follaton Woods.
And the whole town just stood there crying looking at the darkness,
for something wholesome and good.
Oh good, oh ho oh oh.
Oh good, oh ho oh oh.
Still don't, don't you forget.
That rope you tied around your neck.
Don't free you darling, oh oh ho oh ho oh
Don't free you darling, oh oh ho oh ho oh
Hums
Morning white mist came across the plane,
blue skies and rain.
Oh and it was the strangest day,
people taking cover people holding shame.
Oh you'd left your
Heart oh ho oh ho oh. Oh you'd left your
Heart oh ho oh ho oh. Oh you'd left your
Heart oh ho oh ho oh. Oh you'd left your
Heart oh ho oh ho oh. Oh you'd left your
Heart oh.
You woulda laughed your heart ah ah ah out.
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