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.
Welcome to my country
Welcome to my home
You could stay forever
You won't leave it alone
Welcome to the bush
Take what you may need
Shove comes to push
Maybe I shouldn't leave
I can't let go of the painted desert
I can't let go of the old way
I can't let go of the homeland
It's in the blood I can't let go
I can stand up through your destruction
My voice will tremble
My hands will shake
Yes, I can stand up through your destruction
I won't break
I won't break
I could hear the voices
I could hear the voices
Coming through the night
I can't let go of the painted desert
I can't let go of the old way
I can't let go of the homeland
It's in the blood I can't let go
Sweat it out (sweat it out, sweat it out)
Let it out (let it out, let it out, let it out)
Sweat it out (sweat it out, sweat it out)
Let it out (let it out, let it out, let it out)
Get it outta my head
I can't let go of the painted desert
I can't let go of the old way
I can't let go of the ancient ways
It's in the blood I can't let go
It's in the blood
It's in the blood I can't let go
Welcome to my home
You could stay forever
You won't leave it alone
Welcome to the bush
Take what you may need
Shove comes to push
Maybe I shouldn't leave
I can't let go of the painted desert
I can't let go of the old way
I can't let go of the homeland
It's in the blood I can't let go
I can stand up through your destruction
My voice will tremble
My hands will shake
Yes, I can stand up through your destruction
I won't break
I won't break
I could hear the voices
I could hear the voices
Coming through the night
I can't let go of the painted desert
I can't let go of the old way
I can't let go of the homeland
It's in the blood I can't let go
Sweat it out (sweat it out, sweat it out)
Let it out (let it out, let it out, let it out)
Sweat it out (sweat it out, sweat it out)
Let it out (let it out, let it out, let it out)
Get it outta my head
I can't let go of the painted desert
I can't let go of the old way
I can't let go of the ancient ways
It's in the blood I can't let go
It's in the blood
It's in the blood I can't let go
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
In the Blood Lyrics as written by Tim Gordine Robbie Robertson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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