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.
can't speak
can't talk
can't do anything they want
can't hide
or change your mind
gonna live w/ all my soul
inside
can't speak
can't talk
can't stop for the reeling cause
or love
i told 'em all about it
can't talk
cause i'm already lost
can't think
can't cry
keep thinking of a suicide
it's hard
i just can't forget it
gonna fade cause i'm already dead
can't think
can't dream
don't care if i live or die
don't talk
i just can't believe it
gonna fade cause i'm already dead
can't speak
can't lie
don't go anywhere to hide
can't think
can't cry
keep thinking of a suicide
can't speak
can't talk
can't do anything i want
can't hide
or change your mind
gonna live with all my soul inside
can't talk
can't do anything they want
can't hide
or change your mind
gonna live w/ all my soul
inside
can't speak
can't talk
can't stop for the reeling cause
or love
i told 'em all about it
can't talk
cause i'm already lost
can't think
can't cry
keep thinking of a suicide
it's hard
i just can't forget it
gonna fade cause i'm already dead
can't think
can't dream
don't care if i live or die
don't talk
i just can't believe it
gonna fade cause i'm already dead
can't speak
can't lie
don't go anywhere to hide
can't think
can't cry
keep thinking of a suicide
can't speak
can't talk
can't do anything i want
can't hide
or change your mind
gonna live with all my soul inside
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Cantspeak Lyrics as written by Glenn Danzig
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
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