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.
With primitive ablutions
Like a hobbyist of deranged proportion
The win is yours
We failed again
The fleshy existence you keep
To yourself is secure
We are magnificent machineries of joy
We are magnificent machineries of joy
Machines of joy and then some
Machines of joy and then some
You are a vision of extraordinary contortion
An athletic form of warm distortion
The triumph yours
We lose again
The fleshy existence you keep
To yourself is secure
We are magnificent machineries of joy
We are magnificent machineries of joy
Machines of joy and then some
Machines of joy and then some
You are a vision
A kind of vision
So tell me what he said
Though it doesn't really matter
Tell me what he said
Though I don't really care
It's only what he said
And we can make it better
Tell me what he said
Though I don't really care
Help is on the way
Help is on the way
Help is on the way
It's a kind of vision
We are magnificent machineries of joy
We are magnificent machineries of joy
The fleshy existence you keep
To yourself is secure
Like a hobbyist of deranged proportion
The win is yours
We failed again
The fleshy existence you keep
To yourself is secure
We are magnificent machineries of joy
We are magnificent machineries of joy
Machines of joy and then some
Machines of joy and then some
You are a vision of extraordinary contortion
An athletic form of warm distortion
The triumph yours
We lose again
The fleshy existence you keep
To yourself is secure
We are magnificent machineries of joy
We are magnificent machineries of joy
Machines of joy and then some
Machines of joy and then some
You are a vision
A kind of vision
So tell me what he said
Though it doesn't really matter
Tell me what he said
Though I don't really care
It's only what he said
And we can make it better
Tell me what he said
Though I don't really care
Help is on the way
Help is on the way
Help is on the way
It's a kind of vision
We are magnificent machineries of joy
We are magnificent machineries of joy
The fleshy existence you keep
To yourself is secure
Lyrics submitted by cathalmcb
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