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.
A cry for help, a hint of anesthesia
The sound from broken homes
We used to always meet here
As he lays asleep, she takes him in her arms
Some things I have to do, but I don't mean you harm
A worried parent's glance, a kiss, a last goodbye
Hands him the bag she packed, the tears she tries to hide
A cruel wind that blows down to our lunacy
And leaves him standing cold here in this colony
I can't see why all these confrontations
I can't see why all these dislocations
No family life, this makes me feel uneasy
Stood alone here in this colony
In this colony
In this colony
In this colony
In this colony
Dear God in his wisdom took you by the hand
God in his wisdom made you understand
God in his wisdom took you by the hand
God in his wisdom made you understand
God in his wisdom took you by the hand
God in his wisdom made you understand
God in his wisdom took you by the hand
God in his wisdom made you understand
In this colony
In this colony
In this colony
In this colony
The sound from broken homes
We used to always meet here
As he lays asleep, she takes him in her arms
Some things I have to do, but I don't mean you harm
A worried parent's glance, a kiss, a last goodbye
Hands him the bag she packed, the tears she tries to hide
A cruel wind that blows down to our lunacy
And leaves him standing cold here in this colony
I can't see why all these confrontations
I can't see why all these dislocations
No family life, this makes me feel uneasy
Stood alone here in this colony
In this colony
In this colony
In this colony
In this colony
Dear God in his wisdom took you by the hand
God in his wisdom made you understand
God in his wisdom took you by the hand
God in his wisdom made you understand
God in his wisdom took you by the hand
God in his wisdom made you understand
God in his wisdom took you by the hand
God in his wisdom made you understand
In this colony
In this colony
In this colony
In this colony
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
Thee More Shallows
Show Me a Little Shame
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
He certainly did earn that reputation.
when rules change
Life in Your Way
Life in Your Way
High life
Grand Theft Auto
Insane Ian
Insane Ian
The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
Techno Ted
Audioslave
Audioslave
Techno Ted may be a person who caused Chris incredible emotional pain & trepidation as well as moments of peace & happiness but now is removed and awaiting his fate. Darling may be a different person who is also free of him and can live her life free of Ted's tyranny. "In between all the laughing, and daydreams ... lies: a desert of truth" Lies are like a desert or the omission of Truth: Where there were Lies then Truth was absent. The song, "Techno Ted", may be a cathartic celebration of the downfall of this person.
once you step in a relationship with no visible and stable future you get all flooded with things, you are at family dinner with your wife and everyone is doing something while you, always unstable for this kind of crowded environment just stand there,like the time has stopped for you and not others, deep down you know that you are cold and alone still and will be for much of the rest of your life because of your adversity, its like you are pinned to the ground... And then when your wife taps on your shoulder you realize what have you been doing, that creep affliction of yours never gets contagious so you apologize and it just starts all over again. I think it happened to Ian quite a lot,given to his condition as an epileptic and his depression (the amplified feelings) and his unstable relationship with both the band and his wife, i think he would just stand there stare at people for a while and with that he would have been the one on the outside of his dark dome,looking in. I think it hints in various of things Ian was particularly going through at the time,family/relationships/politics etc... . P.s. I also think it is "the sound of broken BONES" (not homes)
Just an idea!