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.
The winter here's cold and bitter
It's chilled us to the bone
We haven't seen the sun for weeks
Too long, too far from home
I feel just like I'm sinking
And I claw for solid ground
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
Oh, darkness I feel like letting go
If all of the strength and all of the courage
Come and lift me from this place
I know I can love you much better than this
Full of grace
Full of grace
My love
It's better this way, I said
Haven't seen this place before
Where everything we say and do
Hurts us all the more
It's just that we stayed too long
In the same old sickly skin
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
Oh, darkness I feel like letting go
If all of the strength and all of the courage
Come and lift me from this place
I know I could love you much better than this
Full of grace
I know I could love you much better than this
It's better this way
It's chilled us to the bone
We haven't seen the sun for weeks
Too long, too far from home
I feel just like I'm sinking
And I claw for solid ground
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
Oh, darkness I feel like letting go
If all of the strength and all of the courage
Come and lift me from this place
I know I can love you much better than this
Full of grace
Full of grace
My love
It's better this way, I said
Haven't seen this place before
Where everything we say and do
Hurts us all the more
It's just that we stayed too long
In the same old sickly skin
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
Oh, darkness I feel like letting go
If all of the strength and all of the courage
Come and lift me from this place
I know I could love you much better than this
Full of grace
I know I could love you much better than this
It's better this way
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I remember when they played this song at the end of Buffy The Vampire Slayer's second season finale. I was already in tears from the death of "Angel" but when they played this song I just started bawling. Like misundazt00d said, it's such a beautiful but depressing song. Sarah has such raw talent, and her voice just carries emotion so well...Kudos to Sarah and kudos too Joss Whedon for picking a great song for the ending of BTVS's second season.