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.
You say you were wrong to ever leave me alone
And now you're sorry, you're lonesome and scared
And you say you'd be happy if you could just come back home
Well, here's a quarter, call someone who cares
Call someone who'll listen and might give a damn
Maybe one of your sorted affairs
But don't you come around here handin' me none of your lies
Here's a quarter, call someone who cares
(yeah)
Girl, I thought what we had could never turn bad
So your leavin' caught me unaware
But the fact is you've run, girl, that can't be undone
So here's a quarter, call someone who cares
Call someone who'll listen, yeah, and might give a damn
Maybe one of your sorted affairs
But don't you come around here handin' me none of your lies
Here's a quarter, call someone who cares
Yeah, here's a quarter, call someone who cares
Oh, yeah
And now you're sorry, you're lonesome and scared
And you say you'd be happy if you could just come back home
Well, here's a quarter, call someone who cares
Call someone who'll listen and might give a damn
Maybe one of your sorted affairs
But don't you come around here handin' me none of your lies
Here's a quarter, call someone who cares
(yeah)
Girl, I thought what we had could never turn bad
So your leavin' caught me unaware
But the fact is you've run, girl, that can't be undone
So here's a quarter, call someone who cares
Call someone who'll listen, yeah, and might give a damn
Maybe one of your sorted affairs
But don't you come around here handin' me none of your lies
Here's a quarter, call someone who cares
Yeah, here's a quarter, call someone who cares
Oh, yeah
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great song... period.