Basically the "Atlas" in this song is a person who takes pride in trying to do as much as he/she can; but that's not enough. He/she scoffs at the weaknesses and failures of others to set his/her-self above the "masses". This self righteousness drives others away to which "Atlas" sees as rejection of his/her "perfection". The chorus mocks "Atlas" with the word die which is to say fail. "Die as you hold up the skies" is to say, "fail as you try to do it all". The mocking goes on with "Atlas, rise." which can be interpreted as , "You think you can hold the world? Then stand with it all on your back."
Basically the "Atlas" in this song is a person who takes pride in trying to do as much as he/she can; but that's not enough. He/she scoffs at the weaknesses and failures of others to set his/her-self above the "masses". This self righteousness drives others away to which "Atlas" sees as rejection of his/her "perfection". The chorus mocks "Atlas" with the word die which is to say fail. "Die as you hold up the skies" is to say, "fail as you try to do it all". The mocking goes on with "Atlas, rise." which can be interpreted as , "You think you can hold the world? Then stand with it all on your back."