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've spent my whole damn life, fighting through adversity
No mountain was too high, I swam the depths of Savage Seas
Now I'm fucking drowning, my dreams are paralyzed
And all that I've been yearning, is fading like a candle in the night
Can you save me now?
Lift me off the ground
I need you more than ever
Will you save me now?
I'm reaching for the surface, I'm searching for the light
Reach out your hand and save my life
Stay with me, give me the strength
I've got to break away from this nightmare
Every day I look in the mirror
And all I see is a shadow of myself
Can you save me from the deepest darkest dreams?
From the depths of agony?
I will never perish with you by my side
Bring me back to life
I've got to break away from these dark fucking clouds
I can't waste another moment here like this
It's time to turn this life around
Pick the pieces off the ground
I'll resurrect the future that belongs to me
I'm never giving up
I will never say goodbye
I will never say goodbye
I'm reaching for the surface, I'm searching for the light
Reach out your hand and save my life
It's everything I live for, I'm fighting for a chance
Reach out and take my hand
Stay with me, give me the strength
I've got to break away from this nightmare
Every day I look in the mirror
And all I see is a shadow of myself
Can you save me now?
Lift me off the ground
I need you more than ever
Will you save me now?
No mountain was too high, I swam the depths of Savage Seas
Now I'm fucking drowning, my dreams are paralyzed
And all that I've been yearning, is fading like a candle in the night
Can you save me now?
Lift me off the ground
I need you more than ever
Will you save me now?
I'm reaching for the surface, I'm searching for the light
Reach out your hand and save my life
Stay with me, give me the strength
I've got to break away from this nightmare
Every day I look in the mirror
And all I see is a shadow of myself
Can you save me from the deepest darkest dreams?
From the depths of agony?
I will never perish with you by my side
Bring me back to life
I've got to break away from these dark fucking clouds
I can't waste another moment here like this
It's time to turn this life around
Pick the pieces off the ground
I'll resurrect the future that belongs to me
I'm never giving up
I will never say goodbye
I will never say goodbye
I'm reaching for the surface, I'm searching for the light
Reach out your hand and save my life
It's everything I live for, I'm fighting for a chance
Reach out and take my hand
Stay with me, give me the strength
I've got to break away from this nightmare
Every day I look in the mirror
And all I see is a shadow of myself
Can you save me now?
Lift me off the ground
I need you more than ever
Will you save me now?
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