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 am caligula
Gluttun of gluttons
Men over women,
Man over woman,
The whore over man.
And I'm..
not ashamed to admit
I'ts not enough to say
"I love all of you"
And I'm aroused
You lie here, you lie here.
We are ok in a misguided sadist way
We are ok.
We are ok in a disabled veteran's way
We are ok.
Can I ever begin to imagine
The terrible
Itch in mine
It haunts your mind.
A family of five
The end of mine.
I died with wolves again.
I travel with thieves again
And I...
What did I teach you?
What did I teach you?
You're lying, you're lying
We are ok in a misguided sadist way
We are ok.
We are ok in a disabled veteran's way
We are ok.
So don't confuse why we put you here
Or your automation for individuality
A notch on my belt is how you shall exist
A notch on my bedpost is how you shall exist
And no more no less for the common good
That's you, American womanhood
That's you, American womanhood.
It haunts your mind
It haunts your mind.
We are ok in a misguided sadist way
We are ok.
We are ok in a disabled veteran way
We're so cold.
Gluttun of gluttons
Men over women,
Man over woman,
The whore over man.
And I'm..
not ashamed to admit
I'ts not enough to say
"I love all of you"
And I'm aroused
You lie here, you lie here.
We are ok in a misguided sadist way
We are ok.
We are ok in a disabled veteran's way
We are ok.
Can I ever begin to imagine
The terrible
Itch in mine
It haunts your mind.
A family of five
The end of mine.
I died with wolves again.
I travel with thieves again
And I...
What did I teach you?
What did I teach you?
You're lying, you're lying
We are ok in a misguided sadist way
We are ok.
We are ok in a disabled veteran's way
We are ok.
So don't confuse why we put you here
Or your automation for individuality
A notch on my belt is how you shall exist
A notch on my bedpost is how you shall exist
And no more no less for the common good
That's you, American womanhood
That's you, American womanhood.
It haunts your mind
It haunts your mind.
We are ok in a misguided sadist way
We are ok.
We are ok in a disabled veteran way
We're so cold.
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I just wish that Roadrunner were not such tight asses and allowed GJ to put this on the new album...guess I'm gonna have to track down that single now....