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.
I've been grinding and grinding
Oh, ocean have mercy
I've been grinding and grinding
Oh, ocean have mercy
I give you my life
Oh, son of the sun
I've been rowing and rowing
No sign of land so far in the flood
I've been through fire and wind I'm hanging, feet in the depth
Drowning all day long in an ocean of stress
Gotta find a safety raft, another wave is striking down
Hold on, fight
We are are merely grabbing on to
Hold on, fight
Unconscious ride around the core
In a matter of time, you're out in the open
You shall prove yourself in the bitter end
But for now, brace yourself
Hold on, fight
We are merely grabbing on to
Hold on, fight
Unconscious ride around the core
When you witness death, you understand your demise
And you may embrace your destiny the fate of all
Maybe when we die, we rise, high, find a ground
And we return where we belong
Elders, deep under
Shelter, land
Fight
We are merely grabbing on to life
Fight
One last attempt to break the code
Hold on, fight
We are are merely grabbing on to
Hold on, fight
Unconscious ride around the core
Hold on, fight
Hold on tight
Hold on, fight
Hold on tight
Oh, ocean have mercy
I've been grinding and grinding
Oh, ocean have mercy
I give you my life
Oh, son of the sun
I've been rowing and rowing
No sign of land so far in the flood
I've been through fire and wind I'm hanging, feet in the depth
Drowning all day long in an ocean of stress
Gotta find a safety raft, another wave is striking down
Hold on, fight
We are are merely grabbing on to
Hold on, fight
Unconscious ride around the core
In a matter of time, you're out in the open
You shall prove yourself in the bitter end
But for now, brace yourself
Hold on, fight
We are merely grabbing on to
Hold on, fight
Unconscious ride around the core
When you witness death, you understand your demise
And you may embrace your destiny the fate of all
Maybe when we die, we rise, high, find a ground
And we return where we belong
Elders, deep under
Shelter, land
Fight
We are merely grabbing on to life
Fight
One last attempt to break the code
Hold on, fight
We are are merely grabbing on to
Hold on, fight
Unconscious ride around the core
Hold on, fight
Hold on tight
Hold on, fight
Hold on tight
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
Clearly they're referencing their glory days back in "The World" as we call it..of Warcraft.