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.
If there's a goal that everyone remembers
It was back in ol' 72
We all squeezed the stick and we all pulled the trigger
And all I remember is sitting beside you
You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey
And I never saw someone say that before
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr
Isn't it amazing anything's accomplished?
When the little sensation gets in your way
Not one ambition whisperin' over your shoulder
Isn't it amazing you can do anything?
We hung out together every single moment
'Cause that's what we thought married people do
Complete with the grip of artificial chaos
And believing in the country of me and you
Crisis of faith and crisis in the Kremlin
And yea we'd heard all of that before
It's wintertime, the house is solitude with options
And loosening the grip on a fake cold war
Isn't it amazing what you can accomplish?
When you don't let the nation get in your way
No ambition whisperin' over your shoulder
Isn't it amazing you can do anything?
Next to your comrades in the national fitness program
Caught in some eternal flexed arm hang
Droppin' to the mat in a fit of laughter
Showed no patience, tolerance or restraint
Fireworks exploding in the distance
Temporary towers soar
Fireworks emulating heaven
'Til there are no stars anymore
Fireworks aiming straight at heaven
Temporary towers soar
'Til there are no stars shining up in heaven
'Til there are no stars anymore
Isn't it amazing what you can accomplish?
When the little sensation gets in your way
No ambition whisperin' over your shoulder
Oh isn't it amazing what you can accomplish? Eh
This one thing probably never goes away
I think this one thing is always supposed to stay
Oh, this one thing doesn't have to go away
It was back in ol' 72
We all squeezed the stick and we all pulled the trigger
And all I remember is sitting beside you
You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey
And I never saw someone say that before
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr
Isn't it amazing anything's accomplished?
When the little sensation gets in your way
Not one ambition whisperin' over your shoulder
Isn't it amazing you can do anything?
We hung out together every single moment
'Cause that's what we thought married people do
Complete with the grip of artificial chaos
And believing in the country of me and you
Crisis of faith and crisis in the Kremlin
And yea we'd heard all of that before
It's wintertime, the house is solitude with options
And loosening the grip on a fake cold war
Isn't it amazing what you can accomplish?
When you don't let the nation get in your way
No ambition whisperin' over your shoulder
Isn't it amazing you can do anything?
Next to your comrades in the national fitness program
Caught in some eternal flexed arm hang
Droppin' to the mat in a fit of laughter
Showed no patience, tolerance or restraint
Fireworks exploding in the distance
Temporary towers soar
Fireworks emulating heaven
'Til there are no stars anymore
Fireworks aiming straight at heaven
Temporary towers soar
'Til there are no stars shining up in heaven
'Til there are no stars anymore
Isn't it amazing what you can accomplish?
When the little sensation gets in your way
No ambition whisperin' over your shoulder
Oh isn't it amazing what you can accomplish? Eh
This one thing probably never goes away
I think this one thing is always supposed to stay
Oh, this one thing doesn't have to go away
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Omg! (giggles) So is that what he's referring to? National fitness program? ParticipACTION? That was once called National fitness program? Really? Ive always wondered about that lyric. :)Cute...