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.
Go to bed now I can tell
Pain is on the way out now
Look at the way the domino falls away
I know it's hard looking in
Knowing that tomorrow you'll be back again
Hang your head and let me in, I'm waiting
So long
I was staring into the light
When I saw you in the distance, I knew that you'd be mine
Am I moving back in time?
Just standing still?
I met a man with a broken back
He had a fear in his eyes that I could understand
I can't even shake the hand
Without breaking it
I've been pulling on a wire, but it just won't break
I've been turning up the dial, but I hear no sound
I resist what I cannot change
And I wanna find what can't be found
I'm aware of the time we lost
Like a demon in the doorway, waiting to be born
But I'm here all alone, just begging
Pull me close and let me hold you in
Give me the deeper understanding of who I am
Yeah, I'm moving back again, I'm waiting, yeah
I'm just pulling on a wire, but it just won't break
I've been turning up the dial, but I hear no sound
I resist what I cannot change, own it in your own way
Yeah, I wanna find what can't be found
Pain is on the way out now
Look at the way the domino falls away
I know it's hard looking in
Knowing that tomorrow you'll be back again
Hang your head and let me in, I'm waiting
So long
I was staring into the light
When I saw you in the distance, I knew that you'd be mine
Am I moving back in time?
Just standing still?
I met a man with a broken back
He had a fear in his eyes that I could understand
I can't even shake the hand
Without breaking it
I've been pulling on a wire, but it just won't break
I've been turning up the dial, but I hear no sound
I resist what I cannot change
And I wanna find what can't be found
I'm aware of the time we lost
Like a demon in the doorway, waiting to be born
But I'm here all alone, just begging
Pull me close and let me hold you in
Give me the deeper understanding of who I am
Yeah, I'm moving back again, I'm waiting, yeah
I'm just pulling on a wire, but it just won't break
I've been turning up the dial, but I hear no sound
I resist what I cannot change, own it in your own way
Yeah, I wanna find what can't be found
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Pain Lyrics as written by Adam Granofsky
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is about pain, obviously but this is how I break it down line by line.
Go to bed now I can tell - either really drunk / smashed or generally tired Pain is on the way out now - because he can sleep Look at the way the domino falls away - I see this as a moment where he watches a domino topple that hes playing with and its either in slow motion or significant due to the fact hes so out of it.
I know it's hard looking in - he doesnt like think about himself and sorting out something about himself
Knowing that tomorrow you'll be back again - he will wake up to be himself again Hang your head and let me in, I'm waiting - waiting to drift off away from his troubles
So long
I was staring into the light When I saw you in the distance, I knew that you'd be mine Am I moving back in time? Just standing still?
I met a man with a broken back He had a fear in his eyes that I could understand I can't even shake the hand Without breaking it
I've been pulling on a wire, but it just won't break I've been turning up the dial, but I hear no sound I resist what I cannot change And I wanna find what can't be found
I'm aware of the time we lost Like a demon in the doorway, waiting to be born But I'm here all alone, just begging
Pull me close and let me hold you in Give me the deeper understanding of who I am Yeah, I'm moving back again, I'm waiting, yeah
I'm just pulling on a wire, but it just won't break I've been turning up the dial, but I hear no sound I resist what I cannot change, own it in your own way Yeah, I wanna find what can't be found
@FacebookLoginIsBroken agree with most. I think it’s about opioids also.