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.
There's a hairspray tracing of your brains on the wall
A little nuclear shadow under the disco-ball
Following you
to the powder room
You're a DJ's puppet and a pimp's relief
You work all night to get your drinks for free
and now you're out of it
and you're really proud of it
Deteriorate
Deteriorate
Deteriorate
Degenerate dance break!
The disembodied dance craze!
Your braids are comets and your eyes are stars
The boys don't know just how lucky they are to be close to you
at least to most of you
There isn't much left behind your eyes these days
and you're bound to fritter what remains away
on haute couture
and hairspray portraiture
Deteriorate
Deteriorate
Deteriorate
Degenerate dance break!
The disembodied dance craze!
A little nuclear shadow under the disco-ball
Following you
to the powder room
You're a DJ's puppet and a pimp's relief
You work all night to get your drinks for free
and now you're out of it
and you're really proud of it
Deteriorate
Deteriorate
Deteriorate
Degenerate dance break!
The disembodied dance craze!
Your braids are comets and your eyes are stars
The boys don't know just how lucky they are to be close to you
at least to most of you
There isn't much left behind your eyes these days
and you're bound to fritter what remains away
on haute couture
and hairspray portraiture
Deteriorate
Deteriorate
Deteriorate
Degenerate dance break!
The disembodied dance craze!
Lyrics submitted by JohnnyViola
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