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.
Abraham took Isaac's hand
And led him to the lonesome hill
While his daughter hid and watched
She dare not breathe, she was so still
Just as an angel cried for the slaughter
Abraham's daughter raised her voice
Then the angel asked her what her name was
She said, I have none
Then he asked, how can this be
My father never gave me one
And when he saw her, raised for the slaughter
Abraham's daughter raised her bow
How dearest you, child, defy your father
You'd better let young Isaac go
And led him to the lonesome hill
While his daughter hid and watched
She dare not breathe, she was so still
Just as an angel cried for the slaughter
Abraham's daughter raised her voice
Then the angel asked her what her name was
She said, I have none
Then he asked, how can this be
My father never gave me one
And when he saw her, raised for the slaughter
Abraham's daughter raised her bow
How dearest you, child, defy your father
You'd better let young Isaac go
Lyrics submitted by brdy724, edited by valjeang, goodnews, katnisspippin6, Mellow_Harsher, Echora
Abraham's Daughter Lyrics as written by T-bone Burnett Regine Chassagne
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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First, Abraham takes Isaac up to the mountain to be slaughtered and his nameless daughter hides, feeling unable to do nothing. Then, an angel sees her and asks her what her name it is. She says that she has none. The angel asks why, because names are a very powerful thing. She then sees that she can save her brother and she raises her bow and points it at her father's head, asking him to let go of Isaac. Her father flips out, asking why she would disobey god, but the angel agrees and tells Abraham to loose Isaac.
In real life, people stand by and refuse to help what we care about, but others stand up and take the risk to go past those who rule us to save what we care about.