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.
Drink the water drink it down
This time I know I'm bound
To spit it back up
I didn't want this
Salty substitute, just not going to do
I need some air, if I'm going to live through
This experience reminds me of a clock
That just won't tick
I want to wake up
From this concussion
But my dream is just not done
I'm late again,
It's just one of those
Bad days look outside and
Be careful what you ride
You just might find
That you're out of time
To swim ashore
If I drift long enough
I'll be home
He's got delusions between his ears
Man it takes up too much space
And all that tension between his gears man
He'll never ever leave this place
He's got stones instead of bones
And everybody knows
Ah, man, that can make you real real slow
And if heaven was below
He'd know just where to go
Dive in the ocean
And he'd sink like a stone
And he'd say
It's time to swim ashore
If I drift long enough
I'll be home
Hold on if you can
You're gonna sink faster
Than you can imagine so hold
Hold on if you can
You're gonna sink faster
Than you can imagine so hold
It's just time to swim ashore
If I drift long enough
I'll be home
This time I know I'm bound
To spit it back up
I didn't want this
Salty substitute, just not going to do
I need some air, if I'm going to live through
This experience reminds me of a clock
That just won't tick
I want to wake up
From this concussion
But my dream is just not done
I'm late again,
It's just one of those
Bad days look outside and
Be careful what you ride
You just might find
That you're out of time
To swim ashore
If I drift long enough
I'll be home
He's got delusions between his ears
Man it takes up too much space
And all that tension between his gears man
He'll never ever leave this place
He's got stones instead of bones
And everybody knows
Ah, man, that can make you real real slow
And if heaven was below
He'd know just where to go
Dive in the ocean
And he'd sink like a stone
And he'd say
It's time to swim ashore
If I drift long enough
I'll be home
Hold on if you can
You're gonna sink faster
Than you can imagine so hold
Hold on if you can
You're gonna sink faster
Than you can imagine so hold
It's just time to swim ashore
If I drift long enough
I'll be home
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
Um... well he was an amazing pro surfer at a young age, i think... youngest to be invited to the pipemasters, was it? And then he had a terrible accident where he hit an underwater reef on a fall and cut his head wide open and nearly got killed..... so I'm thinkin' that might have something to do with what this song is about.... at least what inspired it...... anyway, yes, he is brilliant