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.
Death comes sweeping through the hallway, like a lady's dress
Death comes driving down the highway, in its Sunday best
A fire of unknown origin took my baby away
A fire of unknown origin took my baby away
Swept to ruin off my wavelength, swallowed her up
Like the ocean in a fire, so thick and gray
A fire of unknown origin took my baby away
A fire of unknown origin took my baby away
Death comes driving, I can't do nothing
Death goes
There must be something, there must be something that remains
There must be something
There must be something
A fire of unknown origin took my baby away
A fire of unknown origin took my baby away
Death comes driving down the highway, in its Sunday best
A fire of unknown origin took my baby away
A fire of unknown origin took my baby away
Swept to ruin off my wavelength, swallowed her up
Like the ocean in a fire, so thick and gray
A fire of unknown origin took my baby away
A fire of unknown origin took my baby away
Death comes driving, I can't do nothing
Death goes
There must be something, there must be something that remains
There must be something
There must be something
A fire of unknown origin took my baby away
A fire of unknown origin took my baby away
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My theroy, I believe this song ties into the album (or part of it), some kind of disease or "fire" spreads across the planet and is started by aliens(or something). Burning for you is the beginning of a global catastrophe and time is a factor(meanwhile he is mourning). Then Veteran of the Psychic Wars is he's trying to stop the disease or fire (or aliens) and he can't stop it (the song seems to make references to war with aliens and Burnin for You is about no home left, no reason to fight, but livin to give the devil his due) Then in Sole Survivor he's the only one left from whatever happened and he's all alone. then in Heavy Metal maybe he contemplates life or something. He seeks revenge in Vengence (The Pact) or makes a promise of revenge against whatever happened or whoever caused it (maybe anti-government?) then after that, got me.
That's true in a sense. But I really think it's more specific; only about one of those mysterious causes of death, which would have to be spotaneous human combustion. Any other guesses, folks? Good tune, you know.
I don't know but it feels like the death was an accident yet he believes that he could've prevented it?
Death comes driving makes me think a car accident.
The lyrics were written by Patti Smith, I believe she wrote the song about Jim Morrison's death
A song makes me think about a man who lost his girlfriend in a fire that came from nowhere, and he's eaten up with guilt over his helplessness in the situation. He was there, she was his, he was supposed to defend her and protect her, and the fire came and took her away.
To me it seems more like the song is talking about some type of disease. The fire of unknown origin referring to both the disease, as well as the fever caused by it. "Like the ocean in a fire, so thick and gray." Often times the skin of a person near death can take on a grey pallor. The song depicts the events as being something that seems to come out of nowhere at all, and afterward leaves the survivor of the deceased thinking there was something that could have been done to prevent it. "I should have seen it coming! I should have made her go to the hospital sooner! There must have been something I could have done..." is a very common line of thought in a situation like this.
I think it might have to do with UFOs. The lyrics aren't very specific but the music somehow sounds... science fiction-ish, and knowing BÖC, it's very well possible. She's killed by aliens (maybe because she knew too much) and he suspects something is wrong, goes looking for answers but finds nothing.
i think this song is about aliens because of the line fire of an unknown origin took my baby away (which is his girl friend or something)and the fire of an unknown origin is probally a UFO with some weird fire at the bottom to kkep it up or sumtin any ways that jusy my opinion try not to rat me out I`m only 10
It sounds to me... a song about unknown causes of death.