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.
You'd never know this was an empty smile
But then my days have felt like this for quite a while
But no one seems to see it,
It's like the whole world just keeps passing me by, by and by
I'm trying every night, I lie awake, I face my darkest fear and
All these lies, that whisper and won't go away
Break the world I know
I fear I'll never see the light of day,
I need you here and now
Take the pain I hold,
It's crying out to be the end of me,
But I can't hear the sound
A thousand days fell here in black and white
Longing looking hoping for the morning light
I know it's got to be there
I'm just waiting for the glorious sign
By and by
I'm trying every night, I lie awake, I face my darkest fear and
All these lies, that whisper and won't go away
Break the world I know
I fear I'll never see the light of day,
I need you here and now
Take the pain I hold,
It's crying out to be the end of me,
But I can't hear the sound
These voices choke away the light
And they infect me with their lies
They try to take away my life
They give me one way out
Out through my Christ, the light of the sky
You've washed them away and now you've given me life
You've shown me the reason
The story in the night
I'm so undeserving now I don't have to hide
Break the world I know
I fear I'll never see the light of day,
I need you here and now
Take the pain I hold,
It's crying out to be the end of me,
But I can't hear the sound
But then my days have felt like this for quite a while
But no one seems to see it,
It's like the whole world just keeps passing me by, by and by
I'm trying every night, I lie awake, I face my darkest fear and
All these lies, that whisper and won't go away
Break the world I know
I fear I'll never see the light of day,
I need you here and now
Take the pain I hold,
It's crying out to be the end of me,
But I can't hear the sound
A thousand days fell here in black and white
Longing looking hoping for the morning light
I know it's got to be there
I'm just waiting for the glorious sign
By and by
I'm trying every night, I lie awake, I face my darkest fear and
All these lies, that whisper and won't go away
Break the world I know
I fear I'll never see the light of day,
I need you here and now
Take the pain I hold,
It's crying out to be the end of me,
But I can't hear the sound
These voices choke away the light
And they infect me with their lies
They try to take away my life
They give me one way out
Out through my Christ, the light of the sky
You've washed them away and now you've given me life
You've shown me the reason
The story in the night
I'm so undeserving now I don't have to hide
Break the world I know
I fear I'll never see the light of day,
I need you here and now
Take the pain I hold,
It's crying out to be the end of me,
But I can't hear the sound
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