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.
Ever since I was a young boy, I played the silver ball
From Soho down to Brighton, I must have played them all
But I ain't seen nothing like him in any amusement hall
That deaf, dumb, blind boy,
Sure plays a mean pinball.
He stands like a statue, becomes part of the machine.
Feeling all the bumpers, always playing clean.
Plays by intuition, the digit counters fall,
That deaf, dumb, blind boy,
Sure plays a mean pinball.
He's a pinball wizard, there has to be a twist.
A pinball wizard, he's got such a supple wrist.
How do you think he does it? I don't know.
What makes him so good?
Well, he ain't got no distractions,
Can't hear no buzzers and bells.
Don't see lights-a-flashin',
He plays by a sense of smell.
Always has a replay, 'n never tilts at all.
That deaf, dumb, blind boy,
Sure plays a mean pinball.
He can't beat me now, I've always been the champ.
I know every trick, no freak's gonna beat my hand.
Pinball! Let's play!
Pinball! Let's play!
Pinball! Let's play!
Pinball! Let's play!
Even on my usual table, he can beat the best.
His disciples lead him in, and he just does the rest.
He's got crazy flipper fingers, I never seen him fall,
That deaf, dumb, blind boy,
Sure plays a mean pinball.
He's a pinball wizard, there has to be a twist.
A pinball wizard, he's got such a supple wrist.
He's a pinball wizard, his score's a trillion more.
A pinball wizard, the world's new pinball lord.
He's scoring more! He's scoring more!
I thought I was the Bally table king,
But I just handed my pinball crown to him.
To him! To him!
From Soho down to Brighton, I must have played them all
But I ain't seen nothing like him in any amusement hall
That deaf, dumb, blind boy,
Sure plays a mean pinball.
He stands like a statue, becomes part of the machine.
Feeling all the bumpers, always playing clean.
Plays by intuition, the digit counters fall,
That deaf, dumb, blind boy,
Sure plays a mean pinball.
He's a pinball wizard, there has to be a twist.
A pinball wizard, he's got such a supple wrist.
How do you think he does it? I don't know.
What makes him so good?
Well, he ain't got no distractions,
Can't hear no buzzers and bells.
Don't see lights-a-flashin',
He plays by a sense of smell.
Always has a replay, 'n never tilts at all.
That deaf, dumb, blind boy,
Sure plays a mean pinball.
He can't beat me now, I've always been the champ.
I know every trick, no freak's gonna beat my hand.
Pinball! Let's play!
Pinball! Let's play!
Pinball! Let's play!
Pinball! Let's play!
Even on my usual table, he can beat the best.
His disciples lead him in, and he just does the rest.
He's got crazy flipper fingers, I never seen him fall,
That deaf, dumb, blind boy,
Sure plays a mean pinball.
He's a pinball wizard, there has to be a twist.
A pinball wizard, he's got such a supple wrist.
He's a pinball wizard, his score's a trillion more.
A pinball wizard, the world's new pinball lord.
He's scoring more! He's scoring more!
I thought I was the Bally table king,
But I just handed my pinball crown to him.
To him! To him!
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