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.
My jail shoes on
The well kept cemetery lawn
Both of them weeping
Their one good son now was gone
The irony to see my dad down on his knees
Crying out to Jesus
But lord I've always done what's right
And all the while
The good lord smiled
And looked the other way
When we were kids
I did my best to make them proud
It just wasn't in me
I could not fly straight to save my life
Their big success is now their biggest failure
Their golden child has been dethroned
Their reputation is now in ruin
Their tower to heaven has come tumbling down
The well kept cemetery lawn
Both of them weeping
Their one good son now was gone
The irony to see my dad down on his knees
Crying out to Jesus
But lord I've always done what's right
And all the while
The good lord smiled
And looked the other way
When we were kids
I did my best to make them proud
It just wasn't in me
I could not fly straight to save my life
Their big success is now their biggest failure
Their golden child has been dethroned
Their reputation is now in ruin
Their tower to heaven has come tumbling down
Lyrics submitted by ScreamingInfidelity
Bad Things to Such Good People Lyrics as written by David Shannon Bazan
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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