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.
he waits my love, he waits my love,
down in the tall pine bay.
and by his side a stone inscribed,
and it’s as cold as the red river clay.
i knit ten miles of black wool,
finally broke that dreadful spell.
beneath the trees, the grass and the weeds,
can you hear that steeple bell?
you stay too long, you’ll sink right in,
it opens up like a trap door grinning
into every empty space along the way.
i’ve got better things to do
than work my wheels into a spin
and lay down in that cold red river clay.
i’ve got a bouquet full of weeds i pulled
that cling to me like this old black wool.
i place them by my lover’s side
where my name stares back at me.
these dandelions and daffodils
still have all these holes to fill,
but i won’t shuffle cards until i’m grey.
i’ve got better things to do
than work my wheels into a spin
and lay down in that cold red river clay.
down in the tall pine bay.
and by his side a stone inscribed,
and it’s as cold as the red river clay.
i knit ten miles of black wool,
finally broke that dreadful spell.
beneath the trees, the grass and the weeds,
can you hear that steeple bell?
you stay too long, you’ll sink right in,
it opens up like a trap door grinning
into every empty space along the way.
i’ve got better things to do
than work my wheels into a spin
and lay down in that cold red river clay.
i’ve got a bouquet full of weeds i pulled
that cling to me like this old black wool.
i place them by my lover’s side
where my name stares back at me.
these dandelions and daffodils
still have all these holes to fill,
but i won’t shuffle cards until i’m grey.
i’ve got better things to do
than work my wheels into a spin
and lay down in that cold red river clay.
Lyrics submitted by GRb
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