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.
The amateur camera captures her motion perfectly.
As the strangle knot that she wears on her wrists.
The trunk preserves the new scent of the princess skin.
Disinfectant spit adding luster to chapped lips.
If she comes to, I'll tell her that she's beautiful.
All thses flies are gathered in admiration.
Perhaps we should offer them a new wound.
I think you're right, this isn't really happening.
This isn't really happening.
Can't get the smell out, can't get the mascara off the apolstry.
Oh, this isn't really happening, this isn't really happening.
Still everyone keeps laughing at me.
Oh god, this is going to end badly.
If you don't wake up, I'll have to stop kissing you.
All that flailing has made you sleepy.
You rest while I untie you, wait here until they find you.
We've got some time before the reverie ends.
I've combed my hair, brought you your Sunday dress.
Tonight we'll magnetize the eyes of this whole town.
My hand made mannequin.
I won't let them get you.
They'll know you're mine by the fingerprints on your throat.
Isn't she lovely?
Isn't she wonderful?
Like the whores that we are, swatting flies from the wounds we design.
This is not about fear.
Paranoia is a disease of the unarmed.
This is beauty.
A sickening concern for the transience of flesh.
We keep our screams behind the gag.
I keep my baby's breath in a Glad bag.
As the strangle knot that she wears on her wrists.
The trunk preserves the new scent of the princess skin.
Disinfectant spit adding luster to chapped lips.
If she comes to, I'll tell her that she's beautiful.
All thses flies are gathered in admiration.
Perhaps we should offer them a new wound.
I think you're right, this isn't really happening.
This isn't really happening.
Can't get the smell out, can't get the mascara off the apolstry.
Oh, this isn't really happening, this isn't really happening.
Still everyone keeps laughing at me.
Oh god, this is going to end badly.
If you don't wake up, I'll have to stop kissing you.
All that flailing has made you sleepy.
You rest while I untie you, wait here until they find you.
We've got some time before the reverie ends.
I've combed my hair, brought you your Sunday dress.
Tonight we'll magnetize the eyes of this whole town.
My hand made mannequin.
I won't let them get you.
They'll know you're mine by the fingerprints on your throat.
Isn't she lovely?
Isn't she wonderful?
Like the whores that we are, swatting flies from the wounds we design.
This is not about fear.
Paranoia is a disease of the unarmed.
This is beauty.
A sickening concern for the transience of flesh.
We keep our screams behind the gag.
I keep my baby's breath in a Glad bag.
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It's not a love song at all, it's a social commentary about how the media force feeds us beauty, essentially turning females into mannequins. The comparison sticks through out the song...though it's much tougher to think it's about some guy tieing up his girlfriend and throwing her in the trunk it's just not the case. This band is amazingly deep the lyrics are just so incredible through all of their songs, and unless you look really closely you usually over look the real meanings.