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.
Walking down the road to damascus, I call my home
I distract myself with skin and bone when the spirit is alone
you have bought me with a currency that exchanges for the death of me
and I would ever readily go blind again so I can see
the light that shines from your body is not at all too bright for me,
but not so dull that I sit in the dark
my sins have come to reconcile, my darkness lays within a pile
you burn it all again with holy water
you change my name to abraham, the syllables are symbols
that I may never own this land, but I still have a home
and love and joy aren’t far away and though their arrows ruined me
a fall could help me land softly into a bed of grace
where I return back to the piles of dirt that I came from before it hurt
and wonder how my rib could make her walk
but you have led me through the sea and closed it on my enemies
yet somehow I can’t find the words to talk
and as I walk, I will see that I was never wandering
my steps will fall in line with something bigger than me
as I grow taller, I grow weaker
the rain will beat my pedals down until I’m stronger
I distract myself with skin and bone when the spirit is alone
you have bought me with a currency that exchanges for the death of me
and I would ever readily go blind again so I can see
the light that shines from your body is not at all too bright for me,
but not so dull that I sit in the dark
my sins have come to reconcile, my darkness lays within a pile
you burn it all again with holy water
you change my name to abraham, the syllables are symbols
that I may never own this land, but I still have a home
and love and joy aren’t far away and though their arrows ruined me
a fall could help me land softly into a bed of grace
where I return back to the piles of dirt that I came from before it hurt
and wonder how my rib could make her walk
but you have led me through the sea and closed it on my enemies
yet somehow I can’t find the words to talk
and as I walk, I will see that I was never wandering
my steps will fall in line with something bigger than me
as I grow taller, I grow weaker
the rain will beat my pedals down until I’m stronger
Lyrics submitted by nerdland
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