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.
Each day I wake up in this gray old town
Each day the system tries to bring me down
With a minimum wage in the factory
I'm slaving in the Twentieth Century
And the whole damn world is gangin up
to bring me to my knees
And now the neighbors make it loud and clear
That they want no ravers moving in around here
I won't play ball, won't do as I'm told
I'd rather be a square peg in a round hole
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
I'm living in a world where I don't really fit
Every day walking through the same old shit
I'm gonna get my gun, gonna get prepared
I'm not impressed and I'm not scared
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Me say...
Ah we livin in da ghetto
On da streets of dis town
...you a man
You stand up firm
Gotta stand up strong
Listen ghetto youth
Dis how we keep in da land
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Each day the system tries to bring me down
With a minimum wage in the factory
I'm slaving in the Twentieth Century
And the whole damn world is gangin up
to bring me to my knees
And now the neighbors make it loud and clear
That they want no ravers moving in around here
I won't play ball, won't do as I'm told
I'd rather be a square peg in a round hole
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
I'm living in a world where I don't really fit
Every day walking through the same old shit
I'm gonna get my gun, gonna get prepared
I'm not impressed and I'm not scared
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Me say...
Ah we livin in da ghetto
On da streets of dis town
...you a man
You stand up firm
Gotta stand up strong
Listen ghetto youth
Dis how we keep in da land
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't let them grind you down
Lyrics submitted by Hooper_X
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I think this song is about not letting the bastards grind you down.