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 was practicing what I had left to say
But I can’t say now
No, I never thought that you
Would have the nerve
To go and shoot her down
You were terrified of love
And then you finally let it out
I knew it isn’t true
Now the rest is coming
But I never thought it would be so soon
If it’s fire for the poor and their feathers
You tar me with the glue
I never dreamed that you would be the one
To shoot me down so soon
Oh no, no no
It can’t be you, it can’t be you
It can’t be you, it can’t be you
It can’t be you, it can’t be you
I was practicing to say what I had left to say
But I can’t say now
No I never thought that you
Would have the nerve
To go and shoot me down
You were terrified of love
And then you finally let it out
Oh I know
It can’t be you, it can’t be you
It can’t be you, it can’t be you
It can’t be you, it can’t be you
But I can’t say now
No, I never thought that you
Would have the nerve
To go and shoot her down
You were terrified of love
And then you finally let it out
I knew it isn’t true
Now the rest is coming
But I never thought it would be so soon
If it’s fire for the poor and their feathers
You tar me with the glue
I never dreamed that you would be the one
To shoot me down so soon
Oh no, no no
It can’t be you, it can’t be you
It can’t be you, it can’t be you
It can’t be you, it can’t be you
I was practicing to say what I had left to say
But I can’t say now
No I never thought that you
Would have the nerve
To go and shoot me down
You were terrified of love
And then you finally let it out
Oh I know
It can’t be you, it can’t be you
It can’t be you, it can’t be you
It can’t be you, it can’t be you
Lyrics submitted by kevindubreuil
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She can't accept taht someone she believed in has let her down. Someone that was too ''terrified of love'' to stay with her and she can't get over the blow. I love the use of 'tar and feather'' very pretty. Amazing song really. Basia is great.