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.
the darkest day of the year
and my heart is on the rail
the darkest day of the year
and whose hand is at the wheel
whose hand's at the wheel
who will tell 'em what has happened
out here beyond the dawn
out here beyond the horizon
who will tell 'em that you're gone
oh, the breaking sigh
no answer in the mystery
once you held me helpless
once it mighta been
cold was sharp across the high desert
you and me in the secrets
once it must have been
not only my heart on the rail
once it must have been
no hand was at the wheel
that no hand was at the wheel
and my heart is on the rail
the darkest day of the year
and whose hand is at the wheel
whose hand's at the wheel
who will tell 'em what has happened
out here beyond the dawn
out here beyond the horizon
who will tell 'em that you're gone
oh, the breaking sigh
no answer in the mystery
once you held me helpless
once it mighta been
cold was sharp across the high desert
you and me in the secrets
once it must have been
not only my heart on the rail
once it must have been
no hand was at the wheel
that no hand was at the wheel
Lyrics submitted by TheWrongGirl
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Love this track, so bleak, so sparse. Beautiful. Rest in Peace Jason.