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.
I’m so full of doubt
That the good news
The good news it never stands out
And why should it
When I question everything?
You always have to say
The wrong things
The wrong things are heading my way
I can’t do this and you finally made see
Now my head’s been screaming
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
I’ve waited long enough
For all this
For all this to build itself up
And I’ll use it as a step to help me see
The better sights, the wrongs from rights
I can’t do this, it was never meant to be
Now my head’s been screaming
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
(Without you around, without you around)
I’m gonna set this place on fire
So my future’s looking brighter
I’m gonna set this place on fire
So my future’s looking brighter
Burn the memories and I’ll forget
There was ever a day that we first met
Gonna set this place on fire
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
Without you around
That the good news
The good news it never stands out
And why should it
When I question everything?
You always have to say
The wrong things
The wrong things are heading my way
I can’t do this and you finally made see
Now my head’s been screaming
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
I’ve waited long enough
For all this
For all this to build itself up
And I’ll use it as a step to help me see
The better sights, the wrongs from rights
I can’t do this, it was never meant to be
Now my head’s been screaming
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
(Without you around, without you around)
I’m gonna set this place on fire
So my future’s looking brighter
I’m gonna set this place on fire
So my future’s looking brighter
Burn the memories and I’ll forget
There was ever a day that we first met
Gonna set this place on fire
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
When you took it all
You left me on this island
I was on my own
I taught myself to live without you around
Without you around
Lyrics submitted by Jugglebug1
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