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.
nothing's so loud
as hearing when we lie
the truth is not kind
and you've said neither am i
but the air outside so soft is saying everything
everything
all i want is to feel this way
to be this close, to feel the same
all i want is to feel this way
the evening speaks, i feel it say...
nothing's so cold
as closing the heart when all we need
is to free the soul
but we wouldn't be that brave i know
and the air outside so soft, confessing everything
everything
and it won't matter now
whatever happens to me
though the air speaks of all we'll never be
it won't trouble me
and it feels so close
let it take me in
let it hold me so
i can feel it say...
as hearing when we lie
the truth is not kind
and you've said neither am i
but the air outside so soft is saying everything
everything
all i want is to feel this way
to be this close, to feel the same
all i want is to feel this way
the evening speaks, i feel it say...
nothing's so cold
as closing the heart when all we need
is to free the soul
but we wouldn't be that brave i know
and the air outside so soft, confessing everything
everything
and it won't matter now
whatever happens to me
though the air speaks of all we'll never be
it won't trouble me
and it feels so close
let it take me in
let it hold me so
i can feel it say...
Lyrics submitted by rabidpenguin
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I definitely don't see this song as a breakup song. It certainly is about a relationship, but the lyrics suggest that although there is dishonesty, distrust, perhaps, in the relationship, it's all okay, and this is all he wants. It's an uplifting message because there is a point in every relationship -- good or bad -- where it comes obvious that something is not right. How we handle things not being right is what makes it good or bad. Great song.