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've been lost inside, empty space in my heart
And some things never change, no
How it hurts me and how it's tearin' me apart,
And it just goes on and on
Can you read my mind, take a good look at my face
Could you take the time, just to stand here in my place
What if I'd been the one to say goodbye, goodbye
Could you smile when inside you just want to cry, look inside
Can you read my mind? oh oh
When I hear your name, feel so cold deep inside
Still it's hard to explain, oh
But you're not meant to be, they say time will heal the pain
But it just goes on forever
Can you read my mind, have you closed the door on love
Can you be so blind, did you think I'd just give up
What if I'd been the one to say goodbye, goodbye
Could you smile when inside you just want to cry, want to cry
What if I'd been the one to say goodbye, goodbye
Could you smile when it hurts so deep inside, and it never fades away
Fade away
Time can't erase the reasons why
I count my mistakes and the heartaches since you said goodbye
What if I'd been the one to say goodbye, goodbye
Could you smile when inside you just want to cry, want to cry
What if I'd been the one to say goodbye, goodbye
Could you smile when it hurts so deep inside, and it never fades away
Never fades away
No, it don't fade away
And some things never change, no
How it hurts me and how it's tearin' me apart,
And it just goes on and on
Can you read my mind, take a good look at my face
Could you take the time, just to stand here in my place
What if I'd been the one to say goodbye, goodbye
Could you smile when inside you just want to cry, look inside
Can you read my mind? oh oh
When I hear your name, feel so cold deep inside
Still it's hard to explain, oh
But you're not meant to be, they say time will heal the pain
But it just goes on forever
Can you read my mind, have you closed the door on love
Can you be so blind, did you think I'd just give up
What if I'd been the one to say goodbye, goodbye
Could you smile when inside you just want to cry, want to cry
What if I'd been the one to say goodbye, goodbye
Could you smile when it hurts so deep inside, and it never fades away
Fade away
Time can't erase the reasons why
I count my mistakes and the heartaches since you said goodbye
What if I'd been the one to say goodbye, goodbye
Could you smile when inside you just want to cry, want to cry
What if I'd been the one to say goodbye, goodbye
Could you smile when it hurts so deep inside, and it never fades away
Never fades away
No, it don't fade away
Lyrics submitted by punkmebabygal, edited by SWLinPHX
If I'd Been the One Lyrics as written by Jeffrey S. Carlisi Donald N. Van Zant
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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