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.
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by whoiscloud, Teampeeta254, Matilda Is Rad, SpongeBobForPresident2016, MegaManGaming, nullportal, brian
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I think it's about fame and how once you have it you can never get rid of it. It could also be about everyday life, which in a lot of ways is like fame. Whether you're famous or not "we're all prisoners here of our own device" is a very powerful statement that almost anyone can relate to. The line "you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave" is about how no matter how much somebody wants to forget or wants die, they never can. As long as everyone knows their name and story, whether they are dead or not, they are still prisoners at the hotel California. The chorus itself, "welcome to the hotel California, such a lovely place, such a lovely face" even though it might be beautiful, fame kills you from the inside (such a lovely face).