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 lot of things occur each day
We've got to live with on our way
There's so much misery on the screen
With commercials in between
And the Russians won't be so late
Uncle Sam don't want to wait
No matter if you're black or white
You never ever had a right
And look up to the eternal skies
See warfare even there
What once has been a paradise
Now destruction and despair
In other worlds the children die
Lacking food ill from a fly
Oppressed by troops to tame their land
It's all the same again
If any man is free on earth
Then tormentors steal his birth
They slam gun butts in his face
And leave his woman choked in mace
So stand up for our human rights
Push back this pest of hate
Raise you voice pass on the light
Unite! it's not too late
[Chorus]
How many tears flow away
To become a sea of fears
How many hearts are torn apart
Till another torment starts
But before the world
Turns into a sun
All cruelty and violence
On earth will be dead and gone
So stand up for our human rights
Push back this pest of hate
Raise you voice pass on the light
Unite! it's not too late
[Chorus]
We've got to live with on our way
There's so much misery on the screen
With commercials in between
And the Russians won't be so late
Uncle Sam don't want to wait
No matter if you're black or white
You never ever had a right
And look up to the eternal skies
See warfare even there
What once has been a paradise
Now destruction and despair
In other worlds the children die
Lacking food ill from a fly
Oppressed by troops to tame their land
It's all the same again
If any man is free on earth
Then tormentors steal his birth
They slam gun butts in his face
And leave his woman choked in mace
So stand up for our human rights
Push back this pest of hate
Raise you voice pass on the light
Unite! it's not too late
[Chorus]
How many tears flow away
To become a sea of fears
How many hearts are torn apart
Till another torment starts
But before the world
Turns into a sun
All cruelty and violence
On earth will be dead and gone
So stand up for our human rights
Push back this pest of hate
Raise you voice pass on the light
Unite! it's not too late
[Chorus]
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Insane Ian
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The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
this songs is about the war and the dangers that it cause to mankind and the lyrics's chorus rox!
How many tears flow away To become a sea of fears How many hearts are torn apart Till another torment starts