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.
Isn't it strange that a gift could be an enemy?
Isn't it weird that a privilege could feel like a chore?
Maybe it's me but this line isn't going anywhere
Maybe if we looked hard enough, we could find a backdoor
Find yourself a backdoor
I see you in line, dragging your feet
You have my sympathy
The day you were born, you were born free
That is your privilege
Isn't it strange that the man standing in front of me
Doesn't have a clue why he's waiting, or what he's waiting for?
Maybe it's me but I'm sick of wasting energy
Maybe if I look in my heart I could find a backdoor
Find yourself a backdoor
I see you in line, dragging your feet
You have my sympathy
The day you were born, you were born free
That is your, that is your privilege
Find yourself a backdoor
I see you in line, dragging your feet
You have my sympathy
The day you were born, you were born free
That is your privilege
I see you in line, dragging your feet
You have my sympathy
The day you were born, you were born free
That is your, that is your privilege
That is your, that is your, that is your
Isn't it weird that a privilege could feel like a chore?
Maybe it's me but this line isn't going anywhere
Maybe if we looked hard enough, we could find a backdoor
Find yourself a backdoor
I see you in line, dragging your feet
You have my sympathy
The day you were born, you were born free
That is your privilege
Isn't it strange that the man standing in front of me
Doesn't have a clue why he's waiting, or what he's waiting for?
Maybe it's me but I'm sick of wasting energy
Maybe if I look in my heart I could find a backdoor
Find yourself a backdoor
I see you in line, dragging your feet
You have my sympathy
The day you were born, you were born free
That is your, that is your privilege
Find yourself a backdoor
I see you in line, dragging your feet
You have my sympathy
The day you were born, you were born free
That is your privilege
I see you in line, dragging your feet
You have my sympathy
The day you were born, you were born free
That is your, that is your privilege
That is your, that is your, that is your
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love it.