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.
Inside of this hole you create, you hide from yourself.
You separate every belief that is true that...
You spent your life attached to this poison.
You don't feel anything out of the rain,
And it's true that...
You spend your life, trapped in this void where you will stay always.
Can't rid of this thought of you rotting in,
This same cold space.
You don't want to feel anything new.
You've decided to spend your life safe from emotion.
This way you'll never be harmed again, or confused now...
You spend your life, trapped in this void where you will stay always.
You waste your life, relaxed in your void where you will drain all of you.
You spend your life, trapped in your void where you will stay always.
You waste your life, relaxed in your void where you will stay always.
You spend your life, trapped in your void where you will stay always.
Waste your life, always.
Attached to this poison, always.
You will drain all of you.
You separate every belief that is true that...
You spent your life attached to this poison.
You don't feel anything out of the rain,
And it's true that...
You spend your life, trapped in this void where you will stay always.
Can't rid of this thought of you rotting in,
This same cold space.
You don't want to feel anything new.
You've decided to spend your life safe from emotion.
This way you'll never be harmed again, or confused now...
You spend your life, trapped in this void where you will stay always.
You waste your life, relaxed in your void where you will drain all of you.
You spend your life, trapped in your void where you will stay always.
You waste your life, relaxed in your void where you will stay always.
You spend your life, trapped in your void where you will stay always.
Waste your life, always.
Attached to this poison, always.
You will drain all of you.
Lyrics submitted by christsizeshoes, edited by AdamArtz
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@XCrusherX I totally agree with everything you said! Your explaination of the phantom bride makes total sense, and it's something that I've done many times in life. Sometimes we fall in love with the image in our head of what that person is or should be, when in reality they are not. This harkens into the idea of unrequited love as well, falling in love with the image of a person but not the actual person itself. It's fun looking in hindsight at all the times I've done this and hearing songs like this, and reading comments like yours bring me so much closure. Makes me know I'm totally crazy and others have observed it as well!