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.
Movement, no movement, just a falling bird
Cold as it hits the bleeding ground
He lived and died
Catch sight, cover me with earth
Draped in black
Static white sound
A day without substance
A change of thought
An atmosphere that rots with time
Colors that flicker in water
A short term effect
Scream, as she tries to push him over
Helpless and sick
With teeth of madness
Jump, jump dance and sing
Sideways across the desert
A charcoal face bites my hand
Time is sweet
Derange and disengage everything
A day without substance
A change of thought
The atmosphere rots with time
Colors that flicker in water
A short term effect
A short term effect
An echo and a stranger's hand
A short term effect
An echo and a stranger's hand
A short term effect
Cold as it hits the bleeding ground
He lived and died
Catch sight, cover me with earth
Draped in black
Static white sound
A day without substance
A change of thought
An atmosphere that rots with time
Colors that flicker in water
A short term effect
Scream, as she tries to push him over
Helpless and sick
With teeth of madness
Jump, jump dance and sing
Sideways across the desert
A charcoal face bites my hand
Time is sweet
Derange and disengage everything
A day without substance
A change of thought
The atmosphere rots with time
Colors that flicker in water
A short term effect
A short term effect
An echo and a stranger's hand
A short term effect
An echo and a stranger's hand
A short term effect
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yeah, i think a lot of it is just the disintegration of things like you said. a bird falling to the ground.. bleeding.. rotting atmosphere.
then it almost seems like it speaks of what it's like when he's clean: 'a day without substance, a change of thought'... as if drugs and all are only short term and then he has to return to reality.