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.
Laying alone, body shaking
Cars outside
They're singing their songs
The candles wave
And I get to thinking
How people see things
And deal with them
In different ways
Trying to move forward
Like a walk underwater
Two steps back
Like a walk through silent streets
I've heard the word
Guess I'm tired of trying
Everybody
I'm saying the 'pop' is gone
Fighting the fight
With the waterline
Catching breathe
And a dirty breeze
What's been used up
Has been more than needed
One river rolling
Two rivers run dry
I'm down
Undone
Down, undone then gone
Behind, beyond
Soft hands
That touch the sun
Cars outside
They're singing their songs
The candles wave
And I get to thinking
How people see things
And deal with them
In different ways
Trying to move forward
Like a walk underwater
Two steps back
Like a walk through silent streets
I've heard the word
Guess I'm tired of trying
Everybody
I'm saying the 'pop' is gone
Fighting the fight
With the waterline
Catching breathe
And a dirty breeze
What's been used up
Has been more than needed
One river rolling
Two rivers run dry
I'm down
Undone
Down, undone then gone
Behind, beyond
Soft hands
That touch the sun
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