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 will the princess figure it out she ain't worth saving
Heavy the head that bears the crown
Of my mistaken empathy, sympathy
I was never good enough to be anything but a remedy
To all of your constant pressing needs
And I never learned, so
I painted a picture of the things I wanted most
To color in the darker side of all my brightest hopes
But there was a monster standing where you should be
So I'll paint you wings, and I'll set you free
I was a pawn in all of your plans, you kept me busy
Locked behind your chamber doors when you felt frisky
Until you got sick of me
I was never good enough to be anything but a remedy
To all of your constant pressing needs
And I never learned, so
I painted a picture of the things I wanted most
To color in the darker side of all my brightest hopes
But there was a monster standing where you should be
So I'll paint you wings, and I'll set you free
When will the princess figure it out, she ain't worth saving
And when will the world get over all her misbehaving
Will we ever learn?
I painted a picture of the things I wanted most
To color in the darker side of all my brightest hopes
But there was a monster standing where you should be
So I'll paint you wings, and I'll set you free
(So she can fly away)
I painted a picture of the things I wanted most
To color in the darker side of all my brightest hopes
But there was a monster standing where you should be
So I'll paint you wings, and I'll set you free
(So you can fly away)
Heavy the head that bears the crown
Of my mistaken empathy, sympathy
I was never good enough to be anything but a remedy
To all of your constant pressing needs
And I never learned, so
I painted a picture of the things I wanted most
To color in the darker side of all my brightest hopes
But there was a monster standing where you should be
So I'll paint you wings, and I'll set you free
I was a pawn in all of your plans, you kept me busy
Locked behind your chamber doors when you felt frisky
Until you got sick of me
I was never good enough to be anything but a remedy
To all of your constant pressing needs
And I never learned, so
I painted a picture of the things I wanted most
To color in the darker side of all my brightest hopes
But there was a monster standing where you should be
So I'll paint you wings, and I'll set you free
When will the princess figure it out, she ain't worth saving
And when will the world get over all her misbehaving
Will we ever learn?
I painted a picture of the things I wanted most
To color in the darker side of all my brightest hopes
But there was a monster standing where you should be
So I'll paint you wings, and I'll set you free
(So she can fly away)
I painted a picture of the things I wanted most
To color in the darker side of all my brightest hopes
But there was a monster standing where you should be
So I'll paint you wings, and I'll set you free
(So you can fly away)
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
Paint You Wings Lyrics as written by Jack Bassam Barakat Alexander William Gaskarth
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i think this song is about wanting a girl(paint a picture of things i want the most) who they both think is out of his league(anything but a remedy to your pressing needs). explaining why she's referred to as princess
but she keeps him around for her own personal reasons. however her personal reasons for keeping him around weigh down on him negatively (but theres a monster standing where you should be) so he wants to "paint her wings and set her free" from his idea of things that he wants in his life. despite how much he wants her, she's doing nothing but harm for him