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 can give a hundred million reasons
To build a barricade
I blame it on the changing of the seasons
The thoughts that I've conveyed
Does it make it all right?
It doesn't make it all right
To roll it over my soul and leave me here
Roll it over my soul and leave me here
Look around at all the plastic people
Who live without a care
Try to sit with me around my table
But never bring a chair
Does it make it all right?
It doesn't make it all right
To roll it over my soul and leave me here
Roll it over my soul and leave me here
To roll it over my soul and leave me here
Roll it over my soul and leave me here
To roll it over my soul and leave me here
Roll it over my soul and leave me here
To build a barricade
I blame it on the changing of the seasons
The thoughts that I've conveyed
Does it make it all right?
It doesn't make it all right
To roll it over my soul and leave me here
Roll it over my soul and leave me here
Look around at all the plastic people
Who live without a care
Try to sit with me around my table
But never bring a chair
Does it make it all right?
It doesn't make it all right
To roll it over my soul and leave me here
Roll it over my soul and leave me here
To roll it over my soul and leave me here
Roll it over my soul and leave me here
To roll it over my soul and leave me here
Roll it over my soul and leave me here
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Catchy and happy? Really? It sounds fuckin depressing. It's brilliant though.