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.
those fortunate risk fate to alleviate a fear from within clawing to trust someone monogamy sits uneasily ice that don't heat freeze howl hollow howl in vast space all light displaced we can kill desire albatross worn subvert to twist and old poem not enough to be hooked on artful rhetoric lessening the grip letting it all slip futures tick tick tick tick tick altruistically we've come a long way man and woman raping from the earth worming what it's worth right wing ricochet displays the evolution of decay just go away infant hospital winged protection infected the new born dreams a life that cannot be intuitive grease paint drooling to relate all of lifes mistakes hitting in the face orchard putrid smile head of state state headless states of being as right up against what's wrong the disease believes to push away normality alone with virtue what's there left to do a virus threads poetry written time dogmatically lifes plague the first aid acquired deficiency spreading it aimlessly have heart crash course caustic dripping gins the reaper body count intensify getting weaker moisten the soul away clouded and vague throw free love to history masters of nothing living's now a precious aim precious game
Lyrics submitted by lastrites
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it's about sexually transmitted disease or AIDS, and the symbolism that surrounds the issue. it's the poetry of the end of safety and health.
I can see the connection to AIDS, but I also think this song relates to the environment, "man and woman raping from the earth, worming what it's worth..." and "right wing ricochet displays the evolution of decay" might be talking about the right wing or conservatives legislating laws against the environment, or taking away people's rights, or gay rights? Maybe it's referring to how when the AIDS crisis began in the 80's, conservatives thought it was punishment for the gay community so they didn't help...