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.
Bite the thorn that pierce the skin
Come back down to earth again
The cold is creeping deep inside
You disconnect the telephone line
Gotta get away
Gotta get away
Get away
Gotta get away
'Fore the Lord gonna make me stay
All that I know
Shoulda been
Coulda been
Mine
I killed the last way out of this
Persuaded by a deceitful kiss
That said you better stay
Said you better stay
Better stay
Said you better stay
'fore it's all gone
Gone away
All that I know...(repeat)
Bite the thorn that pierce the skin
Come back down to earth again
The cold is creeping deep inside
You disconnect the telephone line
Gotta get away
'Fore I lose my mind
Said you better stay
'Fore it's all gone
Gone away
All that I know
All that I know
Come back down to earth again
The cold is creeping deep inside
You disconnect the telephone line
Gotta get away
Gotta get away
Get away
Gotta get away
'Fore the Lord gonna make me stay
All that I know
Shoulda been
Coulda been
Mine
I killed the last way out of this
Persuaded by a deceitful kiss
That said you better stay
Said you better stay
Better stay
Said you better stay
'fore it's all gone
Gone away
All that I know...(repeat)
Bite the thorn that pierce the skin
Come back down to earth again
The cold is creeping deep inside
You disconnect the telephone line
Gotta get away
'Fore I lose my mind
Said you better stay
'Fore it's all gone
Gone away
All that I know
All that I know
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
All I Know Lyrics as written by Mark Lanegan Gary Conner
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Really hard for me to understand how this song is about anything other than a missed opportunity in love.