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'm seein' red
Don't think you'll have to see my face again
Don't have much time for sympathy
Cause it never happened to me
You're feelin' blue now
I think you bit off more than you could chew
And now it's time to make a choice
And all I wanna hear is your
So follow the leader down
And swallow your pride and drown
When there's no place left to go
Maybe that's when you will know
Follow the leader down
And swallow your pride and drown
When there's no place left to go
Maybe that's when you will know
And foolish lies
Well can't you see I tried to compromise
Cause what you say ain't always true
And I can see the tears in your eyes
And what you said now
Can't stop the words from running through my head
And what I'd do to get through to you
But you'd only do it again
So follow the leader down
And swallow your pride and drown
When there's no place left to go
Maybe that's when you will know
Follow the leader down
And swallow your pride and drown
When there's no place left to go
Maybe that's when you will know
Well I can confess, I don't know what to make from all this mess
Don't have much time for sympathy
But it never happened to me, you're feelin' down now
I don't know where I'll be when you come around
And now it's time to make a choice
And all I wanna hear is your voice
Don't think you'll have to see my face again
Don't have much time for sympathy
Cause it never happened to me
You're feelin' blue now
I think you bit off more than you could chew
And now it's time to make a choice
And all I wanna hear is your
So follow the leader down
And swallow your pride and drown
When there's no place left to go
Maybe that's when you will know
Follow the leader down
And swallow your pride and drown
When there's no place left to go
Maybe that's when you will know
And foolish lies
Well can't you see I tried to compromise
Cause what you say ain't always true
And I can see the tears in your eyes
And what you said now
Can't stop the words from running through my head
And what I'd do to get through to you
But you'd only do it again
So follow the leader down
And swallow your pride and drown
When there's no place left to go
Maybe that's when you will know
Follow the leader down
And swallow your pride and drown
When there's no place left to go
Maybe that's when you will know
Well I can confess, I don't know what to make from all this mess
Don't have much time for sympathy
But it never happened to me, you're feelin' down now
I don't know where I'll be when you come around
And now it's time to make a choice
And all I wanna hear is your voice
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this is one of the best songs i have ever heard, it has so much feeling in it. and being in a band i wish i could write a song like this. i keep playing this song and i am still not sick of it. and i first heard it when my girl dumped me so yeah it sorta hit me!!! unwritten law rock!!!