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.
When we were young the world felt so small (felt so small)
When we were young nothing could break us apart (break us apart)
Do you know your eyes are like the stars? (Are like stars)
Summer nights, making out in my car (in my car)
When we were young
Are you still running free like every other?
When we were young
Nothing's too fast 'cause we'd explode together
When we were young
Do you still think of me or maybe, never?
When we were young
Losing something we had when we were young
Back in the day we used to say, "Fuck them all" (fuck them all)
Prodigal sons, were second to none, they gave me a job (gave me a job)
Now I'm stuck at work like a typical jerk with nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
We fell out of touch, now everything sucks, I'm out on my own (out on my own)
When we were young
Are you still running free like every other?
When we were young
Nothing's too fast 'cause we'd explode together
When we were young
Do you still think of me or maybe, never?
When we were young
Losing something we had when we were young
When we were young
Are you still running free like every other?
When we were young
Nothing's too fast 'cause we'd explode together
When we were young
Do you still think of me or maybe, never?
When we were young
Losing something we had when we were young
When we were young nothing could break us apart (break us apart)
Do you know your eyes are like the stars? (Are like stars)
Summer nights, making out in my car (in my car)
When we were young
Are you still running free like every other?
When we were young
Nothing's too fast 'cause we'd explode together
When we were young
Do you still think of me or maybe, never?
When we were young
Losing something we had when we were young
Back in the day we used to say, "Fuck them all" (fuck them all)
Prodigal sons, were second to none, they gave me a job (gave me a job)
Now I'm stuck at work like a typical jerk with nowhere to go (nowhere to go)
We fell out of touch, now everything sucks, I'm out on my own (out on my own)
When we were young
Are you still running free like every other?
When we were young
Nothing's too fast 'cause we'd explode together
When we were young
Do you still think of me or maybe, never?
When we were young
Losing something we had when we were young
When we were young
Are you still running free like every other?
When we were young
Nothing's too fast 'cause we'd explode together
When we were young
Do you still think of me or maybe, never?
When we were young
Losing something we had when we were young
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
@PizzaSubCombo I like the song