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.
When the soul of the city
Was laid to rest
And the nights forgotten and left for dead
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
I happened on a house
Built of living light
Where everything evil disappears and dies
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
When they love you, and they will (and they will)
Tell 'em all they're loving my shadow
And if they try to slow you down (slow you down)
Tell 'em all to go to hell
When they love you, and they will (and they will)
Tell 'em all they're loving my shadow
And if they try to slow you down (slow you down)
Tell 'em all to go to hell
I settled in slowly, to this house that you call home
To blood and breath, fear, flesh and bone
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
Blush of our bodies in the heat of the night
All day the day after, reddened the skies
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
When they love you, and they will (and they will)
Tell 'em all they're loving my shadow
And if they try to slow you down (slow you down)
Tell 'em all to go to hell
When they love you, and they will (and they will)
Tell 'em all they're loving my shadow
And if they try to slow you down (slow you down)
Tell 'em all to go to hell
It's a lifeless life, with no fixed address to give
But you're not mine to die for anymore
So I must live
Born of a bottle, from heaven's hand
And now you know and here I am
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
When they love you, and they will (and they will)
Tell 'em all they're loving my shadow
And if they try to slow you down (slow you down)
Tell 'em all to go to hell
When they love you, and they will (and they will)
Tell 'em all they're loving my shadow
And if they try to slow you down (slow you down)
Tell 'em all to go to hell
When they love me, and they will (and they will)
I'll tell 'em all they're loving your shadow
And if they try to slow me down (slow you down)
We'll tell 'em all to go to hell
When they love me, and they will (and they will)
I'll tell 'em all they're loving your shadow
And if they try to slow me down (slow you down)
We'll tell 'em all to go to hell
Was laid to rest
And the nights forgotten and left for dead
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
I happened on a house
Built of living light
Where everything evil disappears and dies
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
When they love you, and they will (and they will)
Tell 'em all they're loving my shadow
And if they try to slow you down (slow you down)
Tell 'em all to go to hell
When they love you, and they will (and they will)
Tell 'em all they're loving my shadow
And if they try to slow you down (slow you down)
Tell 'em all to go to hell
I settled in slowly, to this house that you call home
To blood and breath, fear, flesh and bone
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
Blush of our bodies in the heat of the night
All day the day after, reddened the skies
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
When they love you, and they will (and they will)
Tell 'em all they're loving my shadow
And if they try to slow you down (slow you down)
Tell 'em all to go to hell
When they love you, and they will (and they will)
Tell 'em all they're loving my shadow
And if they try to slow you down (slow you down)
Tell 'em all to go to hell
It's a lifeless life, with no fixed address to give
But you're not mine to die for anymore
So I must live
Born of a bottle, from heaven's hand
And now you know and here I am
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh, oh
When they love you, and they will (and they will)
Tell 'em all they're loving my shadow
And if they try to slow you down (slow you down)
Tell 'em all to go to hell
When they love you, and they will (and they will)
Tell 'em all they're loving my shadow
And if they try to slow you down (slow you down)
Tell 'em all to go to hell
When they love me, and they will (and they will)
I'll tell 'em all they're loving your shadow
And if they try to slow me down (slow you down)
We'll tell 'em all to go to hell
When they love me, and they will (and they will)
I'll tell 'em all they're loving your shadow
And if they try to slow me down (slow you down)
We'll tell 'em all to go to hell
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