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.
Salt the bed and count yourself
lucky to be kicked around
Resolve to make the journey out
from cancer to the sea
Your cheeks are crests
her eyes are coal
and every vent's a rabbit hole
Her chilled, ecstatic caterwauls
lie quiet at your feet
Good enough for government
your money's gone and your hour's been spent
clutching at the covers
grinding up against an old china doll
Cut the lights and grab your hat
You lost your voice when the stage collapsed
Now there's nothing left for her to do but laugh
There will be no encores
Your last hope and your epitaph
are hiding in her photographs
They're bound to become one at last
if you can't keep your nose clean
Wake up and collect yourself
Pray and comb the gray hair out
Tear her dusty curtains down
and sing her ghost to sleep
carefully...
lovingly...
Good enough for government
Your money's gone and your hours been spent
clutching at the covers
grinding up against an old china doll
Cut the lights and grab your hat
You lost your voice when the stage collapsed
Now there's nothing left for you to do but laugh
There will be no encores
lucky to be kicked around
Resolve to make the journey out
from cancer to the sea
Your cheeks are crests
her eyes are coal
and every vent's a rabbit hole
Her chilled, ecstatic caterwauls
lie quiet at your feet
Good enough for government
your money's gone and your hour's been spent
clutching at the covers
grinding up against an old china doll
Cut the lights and grab your hat
You lost your voice when the stage collapsed
Now there's nothing left for her to do but laugh
There will be no encores
Your last hope and your epitaph
are hiding in her photographs
They're bound to become one at last
if you can't keep your nose clean
Wake up and collect yourself
Pray and comb the gray hair out
Tear her dusty curtains down
and sing her ghost to sleep
carefully...
lovingly...
Good enough for government
Your money's gone and your hours been spent
clutching at the covers
grinding up against an old china doll
Cut the lights and grab your hat
You lost your voice when the stage collapsed
Now there's nothing left for you to do but laugh
There will be no encores
Lyrics submitted by JohnnyViola
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