I appologise for the double post but here's a more thought out explanation that I've written lol
The whole album, Amputechture, has a religious theme although not a positive one. This song sets the tone for the album.
The idea I get from the song at the start is that perhaps it's from the perspective of a rival of Jesus for the affections of a lady. The start makes it seem as if Jesus doesn't acknowledge him and then goes on to say that he doesn't hurt until he's around this woman, rather emotional than physical pain due to the wanting.
It seems as if the story takes place after the crucifiction but before the ressurection as he asks where Jesus's face is as he cannot see it. The safe of dead tongues perhaps alluding to cave in which Jesus's body was placed in death.
The line about "I can see your reflection in your totem first born" regards the woman. Jesus is the totem first born in my opinion as he is a symbol or emblem of God, to whom he was the first born son. A lot of people think that perhaps this means the author sees God's face in Jesus because of the use of "your" but I argue that he sees the woman's face when he looks at Jesus, the man the woman worships and believes is God's son.
Then he shifts back to Jesus with "I suspect you've been carrying a pack of wolves" which could refer to the people who's sins Jesus died for. Rather than being as innocent and worthwhile as Jesus thinks humans are, this person thinks that the people were using Jesus. A bunch of people ready to pounce on him at the right moment. So Jesus's self martyrdom is in vain.
The "I regret not killing you while I had the chance" seems pretty selfexplanatory as he hates himself for not killing Jesus before this. Killing Jesus before Crucifiction would have potentially prevented his legacy which carries on until this day.
Then onto his vow of vengeance to Jesus so to speak. Claiming that he will make his doubts known to everybody and try to disprove all of these claims. To replace the resurrection (somnolence = sleepwalking...as if resurrected) lie with the truth behind it all.
The next bit I'm not so sure of but "dead palace" seems to be suggesting Heaven, so "Better hang your dead palace than have a living home to lose" could suggest the author is saying similar to "It's better for you to promote Heaven as your home than to have one to physically show"...i.e. to describe a home that cannot be seen rather than one that can be verified by normal people.
The last part of that phrase definitely makes the author appear to feel that God is doing this on purpose to make him suffer.
The very last part of the song gives me the idea that the author is almost telling the woman to stop him from explaining everything and making the truth known. As if her view is blurred by her blind faith in this man that claims to be the totem of God. "Don't let me show you the truth". He wants her to see but perhaps knows that it'll hurt her so much that he's conflicted. You can then interpret the last line as "a rasp of tales" i.e. stories. The fiction that Jesus told the people.
I appologise for the double post but here's a more thought out explanation that I've written lol
The whole album, Amputechture, has a religious theme although not a positive one. This song sets the tone for the album.
The idea I get from the song at the start is that perhaps it's from the perspective of a rival of Jesus for the affections of a lady. The start makes it seem as if Jesus doesn't acknowledge him and then goes on to say that he doesn't hurt until he's around this woman, rather emotional than physical pain due to the wanting.
It seems as if the story takes place after the crucifiction but before the ressurection as he asks where Jesus's face is as he cannot see it. The safe of dead tongues perhaps alluding to cave in which Jesus's body was placed in death.
The line about "I can see your reflection in your totem first born" regards the woman. Jesus is the totem first born in my opinion as he is a symbol or emblem of God, to whom he was the first born son. A lot of people think that perhaps this means the author sees God's face in Jesus because of the use of "your" but I argue that he sees the woman's face when he looks at Jesus, the man the woman worships and believes is God's son.
Then he shifts back to Jesus with "I suspect you've been carrying a pack of wolves" which could refer to the people who's sins Jesus died for. Rather than being as innocent and worthwhile as Jesus thinks humans are, this person thinks that the people were using Jesus. A bunch of people ready to pounce on him at the right moment. So Jesus's self martyrdom is in vain.
The "I regret not killing you while I had the chance" seems pretty selfexplanatory as he hates himself for not killing Jesus before this. Killing Jesus before Crucifiction would have potentially prevented his legacy which carries on until this day.
Then onto his vow of vengeance to Jesus so to speak. Claiming that he will make his doubts known to everybody and try to disprove all of these claims. To replace the resurrection (somnolence = sleepwalking...as if resurrected) lie with the truth behind it all.
The next bit I'm not so sure of but "dead palace" seems to be suggesting Heaven, so "Better hang your dead palace than have a living home to lose" could suggest the author is saying similar to "It's better for you to promote Heaven as your home than to have one to physically show"...i.e. to describe a home that cannot be seen rather than one that can be verified by normal people.
The last part of that phrase definitely makes the author appear to feel that God is doing this on purpose to make him suffer.
The very last part of the song gives me the idea that the author is almost telling the woman to stop him from explaining everything and making the truth known. As if her view is blurred by her blind faith in this man that claims to be the totem of God. "Don't let me show you the truth". He wants her to see but perhaps knows that it'll hurt her so much that he's conflicted. You can then interpret the last line as "a rasp of tales" i.e. stories. The fiction that Jesus told the people.