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.
A rooster with a razor
Cuts a hole across the sky
As light tumbles down from the all-seeing eye
And I prop myself back up
With the friends that I keep
All I want from you is to try and get some sleep
The traffic's like a symphony
At 3am
Building it's crescendo as the working day begins
But I just don't think I can wait
For the light of a new day to break
I try to close my eyes while the anxious feeling dies
Can you save me from desire?
Oh, the sky's on fire
Oh, the sky's on fire
Oh, the sky's on fire
Oh, the sky's on fire
Cuts a hole across the sky
As light tumbles down from the all-seeing eye
And I prop myself back up
With the friends that I keep
All I want from you is to try and get some sleep
The traffic's like a symphony
At 3am
Building it's crescendo as the working day begins
But I just don't think I can wait
For the light of a new day to break
I try to close my eyes while the anxious feeling dies
Can you save me from desire?
Oh, the sky's on fire
Oh, the sky's on fire
Oh, the sky's on fire
Oh, the sky's on fire
Lyrics submitted by illustraa
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Fantastic song