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.
It's in the paper every day
You see it in the headlines and you feel so sick
As another life leaves this world - this world so full of hate - but short!
Short on compassion, short on humanity
Asking myself in vain, shaken by the shock…
"Do we even have a chance?"
I don't want to die
I don't want to kill
I don't want to kill
I don't want to die
We are all human
It's time to prove it
This is a plea for peace (world peace)
To the oppressors of the world (and to…)
To the leaders of nations,
Corporate profit takers,
To the every day citizen
Greed, envy, fear, hate- the competition has to stop!
When you see someone down - now is the time to pick 'em up
Set our difference aside and never look back!
I don't want to die
I don't want to kill
I don't want to kill
I don't want to die
We are all human
It's time to prove it
Isn't everybody tired of the fighting?
Isn't everybody tired of the killing?
Isn't everybody tired of the dying?
Hatred?
Violence?
Fighting?
Killing?
Dying?
*Excerpts from "I Have a Dream" by Dr. Martin Luther King
I don't want to die
I don't want to kill
I don't want to kill
I don't want to die
We are all human
It's time to prove it
You see it in the headlines and you feel so sick
As another life leaves this world - this world so full of hate - but short!
Short on compassion, short on humanity
Asking myself in vain, shaken by the shock…
"Do we even have a chance?"
I don't want to die
I don't want to kill
I don't want to kill
I don't want to die
We are all human
It's time to prove it
This is a plea for peace (world peace)
To the oppressors of the world (and to…)
To the leaders of nations,
Corporate profit takers,
To the every day citizen
Greed, envy, fear, hate- the competition has to stop!
When you see someone down - now is the time to pick 'em up
Set our difference aside and never look back!
I don't want to die
I don't want to kill
I don't want to kill
I don't want to die
We are all human
It's time to prove it
Isn't everybody tired of the fighting?
Isn't everybody tired of the killing?
Isn't everybody tired of the dying?
Hatred?
Violence?
Fighting?
Killing?
Dying?
*Excerpts from "I Have a Dream" by Dr. Martin Luther King
I don't want to die
I don't want to kill
I don't want to kill
I don't want to die
We are all human
It's time to prove it
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yea, even if a-f becomes a trendy, mtv played band i will allways like em. they have awesome views on everything