Lyric discussion by embiggenator 

Cover art for What the Water Gave Me lyrics by Florence + the Machine

"And oh, poor Atlas The world's a beast of a burden You've been holding on a long time"

I'm pretty sure is

"And oh, poor Atlas was a beast of burden You've been holding up a long time"

Atlas is the beast of burden, not the world.

Lyric Correction

I don't think that makes as much sense. If Atlas was the one holding the Earth on his shoulders, it would make sense that the Earth was his burden. It's hard to tell though :)

"Was a beast of burden" is correct. "The world's a beast of burden" doesn't make any sense. The world is the burden, and he's the beast that carries it.

And incidentally, Atlas was forced to bear the weight of the heavens, not the world.