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.
We are forever
We are forever
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
This is when you know who your real friends are (that's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
This is when you know, this is when you know (that's when you don't)
Who your real friends are
Who your real friends are, who your real friends are
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
That's when you know who your real friends are (that's when you don't)
Who your real friends are
This is when you know
This is when you know
Who your real friends are
Who your real friends are
Who your real friends are
That's when you know (that's when you don't)
Who your real friends are (that's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
Who your real friends are
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
This is when you know
This is when you know
Who your real friends are
We are forever
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
This is when you know who your real friends are (that's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
This is when you know, this is when you know (that's when you don't)
Who your real friends are
Who your real friends are, who your real friends are
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
That's when you know who your real friends are (that's when you don't)
Who your real friends are
This is when you know
This is when you know
Who your real friends are
Who your real friends are
Who your real friends are
That's when you know (that's when you don't)
Who your real friends are (that's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
Who your real friends are
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
(That's when you don't)
This is when you know
This is when you know
Who your real friends are
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Runwayaway Lyrics as written by Thomas Edward Yorke Nigel Timothy Godrich
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I feel this song start with the premise "We are forever". Some intense friendships have that feeling or idea. However, life crudeness and the evolution of things make you doubt certain ideas that were in the past accepted as absolute truths, thus the contradiction "That's when you know who your real friends are - That's when you don't" - It relates to the paradox and the conflict in ideas ingrained on your psyche. The song ... as playful as it seems... the beats tends to give you a feeling of going back and forward. Between the previous belief and the crude true. Confusion... indecision. Chaos in your throughts.