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.
I don't look at faces, I look at my feet
I'm all alone when I walk down the street
I'm in the kitchen 'cause I can't take the heat
I wanna leave but I stay in my seat
'cause I'm ugly with a capital you
And I don't need a mirror to see that it's true
Ask me a question then I will mess up, ooh
I'll tell a lie and I'll never fess up
I'm pretty lost but I don't wanna be found
No no no no no
My tiny screams don't make a sound, no
'cause I'm ugly with a capital you
And I don't need a mirror to see that it's true
'cause I'm ugly with a capital you
And I need nobody to tell me the truth
I'm all alone when I walk down the street
I'm in the kitchen 'cause I can't take the heat
I wanna leave but I stay in my seat
'cause I'm ugly with a capital you
And I don't need a mirror to see that it's true
Ask me a question then I will mess up, ooh
I'll tell a lie and I'll never fess up
I'm pretty lost but I don't wanna be found
No no no no no
My tiny screams don't make a sound, no
'cause I'm ugly with a capital you
And I don't need a mirror to see that it's true
'cause I'm ugly with a capital you
And I need nobody to tell me the truth
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I think it was the song "Feed Me" which used the same melody as "Boiled Potato".