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.
As flower petals soon decay
the days of youth have passed away
today he would be made a knight
to vow to do what must be right
to live according to his code
to pay with life the debt he owed
to follow his dreams was now the plan
for he must soon become a man
how he had longed to wander free
to chase the lady destiny
some voices singing in his heart
that this would only be the start
and gazing up into the night
he saw the north star burning bright
his future now was in his hands
for he must become a man
A whole new world to see
a brand new man to be
so gallantly he climbed
his fortune soon to find
A new crusader
brave and bold
a new crusader
fortune told
a new crusader
on his way
a new crusader
starts today
Today he knelt before the king
and swore the vows upon his ring
and with the evening's gentle sigh
to all his friends he said goodbye
and turned around for one more look
another small page in the book
and rode off in the setting sun
a lifetime journey just begun
A whole new world to see
a brand new man to be
so gallantly he climbed
his fortune soon to find
A new crusader
brave and bold
a new crusader
fortune told
a new crusader
on his way
a new crusader
starts today
the days of youth have passed away
today he would be made a knight
to vow to do what must be right
to live according to his code
to pay with life the debt he owed
to follow his dreams was now the plan
for he must soon become a man
how he had longed to wander free
to chase the lady destiny
some voices singing in his heart
that this would only be the start
and gazing up into the night
he saw the north star burning bright
his future now was in his hands
for he must become a man
A whole new world to see
a brand new man to be
so gallantly he climbed
his fortune soon to find
A new crusader
brave and bold
a new crusader
fortune told
a new crusader
on his way
a new crusader
starts today
Today he knelt before the king
and swore the vows upon his ring
and with the evening's gentle sigh
to all his friends he said goodbye
and turned around for one more look
another small page in the book
and rode off in the setting sun
a lifetime journey just begun
A whole new world to see
a brand new man to be
so gallantly he climbed
his fortune soon to find
A new crusader
brave and bold
a new crusader
fortune told
a new crusader
on his way
a new crusader
starts today
Lyrics submitted by joelm
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