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.
Can you feel it, see it, hear it today?
If you can't, then it doesn't matter anyway
You will never understand it 'cause it happens too fast
And it feels so good, it's like walking on glass
It's so cool, it's so hip, it's alright
It's so groovy, it's outta sight
You can touch it, smell it, taste it so sweet
But it makes no difference 'cause it knocks you off your feet
You want it all but you can't have it
It's cryin', bleedin', lying on the floor
So you lay down on it and you do it some more
You've got to share it, so you dare it
Then you bare it and you tear it
You want it all but you can't have it
It's in your face but you can't grab it
It's alive, afraid, a lie, a sin
It's magic, it's tragic, it's a loss, it's a win
It's dark, it's moist, it's a bitter pain
It's sad it happened and it's a shame
You want it all but you can't have it
It's in your face but you can't grab it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
You want it all but you can't have it
It's in your face but you can't grab it
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it (yeah, yeah, yeah)
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it (yeah, yeah, yeah)
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it (yeah, yeah, yeah)
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it (yeah, yeah, yeah)
What is it?
It's it
If you can't, then it doesn't matter anyway
You will never understand it 'cause it happens too fast
And it feels so good, it's like walking on glass
It's so cool, it's so hip, it's alright
It's so groovy, it's outta sight
You can touch it, smell it, taste it so sweet
But it makes no difference 'cause it knocks you off your feet
You want it all but you can't have it
It's cryin', bleedin', lying on the floor
So you lay down on it and you do it some more
You've got to share it, so you dare it
Then you bare it and you tear it
You want it all but you can't have it
It's in your face but you can't grab it
It's alive, afraid, a lie, a sin
It's magic, it's tragic, it's a loss, it's a win
It's dark, it's moist, it's a bitter pain
It's sad it happened and it's a shame
You want it all but you can't have it
It's in your face but you can't grab it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
You want it all but you can't have it
It's in your face but you can't grab it
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it (yeah, yeah, yeah)
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it (yeah, yeah, yeah)
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it (yeah, yeah, yeah)
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it
What is it?
It's it (yeah, yeah, yeah)
What is it?
It's it
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I love this song because, yeah, most songs are riddles (kind of) but this is streight up in riddle form. I think it's about that one kick that everyone is looking for, some people have found it, some people are still trying to find out what that one thing is that just grabs you deep inside, inflates you and makes all your cares just float away. That's why he sais "IT", because "IT" is something different to everybody. And you say "What is it?"