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.
Come in out of the rain thou sayest -
But thou ne'er step'st aside;
And I am trapp'd -
A distance there is...
None, save me and the bodkin - pitter-patter on the roof:
Behold! - 'tis not the rain; thence me it has to be -
I will not drink thy vintage wine, my dear;
Thou hast heed'd that I am of innocence, yet thou let'st thy lass into peril -
Thou let'st me be parched;
My heart is of frailty, my pale skin is hued damask.
When thou thy tears hast hidden, "Come back!", thou sayest -
There I soon am to be - but how am I to run when my bones, my heart!
Thou hast me bereaft? -
But run thou sayest; I run -
And there and then I behold that a time will come when I again dead will be.
Thou tell'st me to leave without delay -
I leave with my bodkin and my tears in my hands;
Lo! - the shadows, the sky - descending;
So by a dint of smite I gait ere I run and melt together with dusk.
In my mind in which is this event,
But it seems as if naught is to change anyway?
After all these years thou left'st me down in the emotional depths -
The sombre soaked velvet-drape is hung upon me,
Turning my feelings away from our so ignorant world:
All the beautiful moments shared, deliberatlely push'd aside -
...a distance there is...
But thou ne'er step'st aside;
And I am trapp'd -
A distance there is...
None, save me and the bodkin - pitter-patter on the roof:
Behold! - 'tis not the rain; thence me it has to be -
I will not drink thy vintage wine, my dear;
Thou hast heed'd that I am of innocence, yet thou let'st thy lass into peril -
Thou let'st me be parched;
My heart is of frailty, my pale skin is hued damask.
When thou thy tears hast hidden, "Come back!", thou sayest -
There I soon am to be - but how am I to run when my bones, my heart!
Thou hast me bereaft? -
But run thou sayest; I run -
And there and then I behold that a time will come when I again dead will be.
Thou tell'st me to leave without delay -
I leave with my bodkin and my tears in my hands;
Lo! - the shadows, the sky - descending;
So by a dint of smite I gait ere I run and melt together with dusk.
In my mind in which is this event,
But it seems as if naught is to change anyway?
After all these years thou left'st me down in the emotional depths -
The sombre soaked velvet-drape is hung upon me,
Turning my feelings away from our so ignorant world:
All the beautiful moments shared, deliberatlely push'd aside -
...a distance there is...
Lyrics submitted by damourwannabe
...A Distance There Is... Lyrics as written by Till Broenner Lawrence Klein
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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I will refer to the narrator as the "Lass" and the other character as the "authority".
The first stanza: The lass is in the rain and despite the authority telling her to come in, their actions do not match their words and so she is stuck in the rain. While this could be literal, it is likely a metaphor within the song's story. The metaphor could indicate that the Lass is in a bad situation and the authority is not helping the lass and only pretending to care.
Second Stanza: Bodkin could have many meanings, but appears to be a metaphor for rain. It's only the lass and the rain pitter pattering on the roof. Lass concludes it's not the rain that is making the pitter patter, but only herself. This implies it is her tears making the sounds on the roof.
Third Stanza: Lass states she will not drink the vintage wine. VIntage wine has more value than typical wine so it can be assumed that the authority wants to entice the lass with the vintage wine. The authority knows she is not old enough to partake in the wine and having her drink the wine would be "perilous". "Thou lettest me be parched" implies the authority offers no other beverage.
Fourth Stanza: Lass states her heart "is of frailty". In this context, it likely not a comment on her physical health, but that she lacks the ability to stand up for herself. “My pale skin is hued damask”. Damask is described as a vintage dusty rose color. Her skin goes from pale to being hued damask. This implies that the lass ended up drinking the wine and likely became intoxicated.
Fifth Stanza: "When thou thy tears hast hidden, come back," (why is lass crying?*). Authority tells lass to come back when she stops crying and the lass confirms that she comes quickly when commanded. How can the lass run when her bones and her heart have left her? She lacks the spine and willpower to “run”. Yet the tells her to “run”. Perhaps in a mocking way as if he knows she is too weak-willed to run away and rely upon herself.**
Sixth Stanza: She runs
Seventh Stanza: Lass says that a time will again come when she will be dead “again”. It is unclear why the authority is now telling the lass to leave* Her “bodkin” and her tears are in her hands as she leaves. Creates an image of lass running and crying with her hands covering her face. Bodkin originally was a metaphor for rain, but now its "her bodkin"** This stanza seems to contrast with 5th stanza.
Eighth Stanza: Night falls. A dint in old english is a stroke of a weapon. Could also mean a small impression. “Gait” is old english for a going or walking, departure, journey,". Can also be "way, road, path" Smite is a heavy blow. Could also be used as a strong attraction like “smitten”. Altogether could mean “Lass departs, driven with some sort of attraction/pull” as the day turns to dusk.
Ninth Stanza: “In my minds in which...” Her escape is only a figment of her imagination and desire to escape. Nothing will change anyways.
Tenth Stanza: “After all these years...” Indicates that there might have been a time without the abuse, but now she is in a metaphorical pit of sadness “sombre” can be sad solemn or grave in mood. Velvet is a material that is luxurious and soft. Perhaps means that the lass' abusive treatment has become some sort of dysfunctional comfort for her. Perhaps like stockholm syndrome? Perhaps like "its better to be mistreated than to be ignored" type of thinking? Lass is stating the sombre soaked velvet is turning her feelings away which results in all the beautiful memories being pushed aside.
Eleventh Stanza: It is almost exactly like the last stanza, but now says instead "Turning my feelings away from our so ignorant world" and ends with "a distance there is". I believe this is meant to contrast the tenth stanza where the tenth is devaluing the shared memories together, but the eleventh implies the ignorant world wouldn't understand their precious memories together. And so while it was originally implied there was a distance between the Lass and the Authority, it now seems that the Lass is stating there is a distance between herself and the authority with the entire (ignorant) world.
** Authority could be taunting Lass telling her to run away if her treatment is so horrible, but knowing she wont. Lass questions how she could run when she lacks the willpower to leave.
*** Unclear why she is being told to leave, but appears to be in a different context. Lass states there will be a time where she is dead again. Could be as simple as she acknowledges her eventual death, but more likely is that she will be dead to the authority (temporarily) as in "you are dead to me". It could be further evidence this master/subordinate relationship is illicit. Lass being sent away may be hurtful to her as it is perceived as rejection.
*** Unclear what her* bodkin means in this case. Could be a hair pin or could be redundant, but I do not think it is crucial for understanding the song.
Conclusion: The writers may have had this kind of story in mind. A young (servant?) girl under an abusive authority figure who is likely a man. She is akin to a beaten and abused dog who remains loyal to her master. He treats her well when convenient and tosses her away when she's inconvenient. Deep down, she knows this isn't okay, but its all she has and so she cherishes it.