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.
Taken the long way
Dark realms I went through
I arrived
My vision's so clear
In anger and pain
I left deep wounds behind
But I arrived
Truth might be changed by victory
Beyond the void but deep within me
A swamp of filth exists
A lake it was of crystal beauty
But Arda's spring went by
I've heard the warning
Well curse my name
I'll keep on laughing
No regret
No regret
Don't fear the eyes of the dark lord
Morgoth I cried
All hope is gone but I swear revenge
Hear my oath
I will take part in your damned fate
I will always remember their cries
Like a shadow which covers the light
I will always remember the time
But it's past
I cannot turn back the time
(I) don't look back
There's still smoke near the shore
But I arrived
Revenge be mine
I will take part in your damned fate
Morgoth I cried
It's my oath
So don't fear the eyes
Of the dark lord
Soon you will be free
Set your spirit free
"Suddenly I realized
The prophecies
I've never believed in
My deeds were wrong
I've stained the land
And slain my kin
(Burning Soul)
There's no release from my sins
It hurts
THE CURSE OF FËANOR RUNS LONG
Time and only time will tell us
Tell: was I right or wrong?
When anger breaks through
I'll leave mercy behind"
I will take part in your damned fate
Morgoth I cried
It's my oath
So don't fear the eyes
Of the dark lord
I will always remember their cries
Like a shadow they'll cover my life
But I'll also remember mine
(And) after all I'm still alive
Dark realms I went through
I arrived
My vision's so clear
In anger and pain
I left deep wounds behind
But I arrived
Truth might be changed by victory
Beyond the void but deep within me
A swamp of filth exists
A lake it was of crystal beauty
But Arda's spring went by
I've heard the warning
Well curse my name
I'll keep on laughing
No regret
No regret
Don't fear the eyes of the dark lord
Morgoth I cried
All hope is gone but I swear revenge
Hear my oath
I will take part in your damned fate
I will always remember their cries
Like a shadow which covers the light
I will always remember the time
But it's past
I cannot turn back the time
(I) don't look back
There's still smoke near the shore
But I arrived
Revenge be mine
I will take part in your damned fate
Morgoth I cried
It's my oath
So don't fear the eyes
Of the dark lord
Soon you will be free
Set your spirit free
"Suddenly I realized
The prophecies
I've never believed in
My deeds were wrong
I've stained the land
And slain my kin
(Burning Soul)
There's no release from my sins
It hurts
THE CURSE OF FËANOR RUNS LONG
Time and only time will tell us
Tell: was I right or wrong?
When anger breaks through
I'll leave mercy behind"
I will take part in your damned fate
Morgoth I cried
It's my oath
So don't fear the eyes
Of the dark lord
I will always remember their cries
Like a shadow they'll cover my life
But I'll also remember mine
(And) after all I'm still alive
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I thik that Telperion interpretation is almost correct but a few things. "I will always remember their cries Like a shadow which covers the light I will always remember the time But it's past I cannot turn back the time (I) don't look back There's still smoke near the shore But I arrived Revenge be mine" I believe this part of the song is about the fratricide of Alqualondë, where Feanor and the other Noldor kill the Teleri and burn the ships they didn't steal from them. That's about the "smoke near the shore".
Feanor and his followers didn't burn the ships of the Teleri that they didn't steal. The sailed the stolen ships across Belegaer, then burned them at the shore with the intention of stranding the people of Fingolfin and Finarfin's kindred in Aman.
@lilithlun I think it compresses several things, one is surely Alqualondë but the smoke near the shore is the burning of the ships at Losgar, where Fëanor betrayed and abandoned the two thirds of the Noldor who were following his brother Fingolfin.