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.
They say the time has come for us
To start again
I believe that's true
They say the time has come for us
To make amends
And I believe that too
Why tell me why
Is it all so hard to find
I pray each day
For a perfect world
Where children are laughing
Lovers romancing
Time stands still
A perfect world
There's nothing to cry for
No one to die for
Wonderful
In a perfect world
Our father's father says that
Things were better then
How easy they forgot
On every page in every book of history
A thousand tears were shed
There's hope in our hearts
And love in our eyes
Day after day I keep searching
Why tell me why
Is it all so hard to find
I pray each day
For a perfect world,
Show me the way I'm to understand
That you prove to myself that I'm a man
And you love, but you can't look from above
Travel cross the seven seas to be with you
Passion and desire will see me through
The road that I must travel will wind and curl
You're all I ever needed in a perfect world
To start again
I believe that's true
They say the time has come for us
To make amends
And I believe that too
Why tell me why
Is it all so hard to find
I pray each day
For a perfect world
Where children are laughing
Lovers romancing
Time stands still
A perfect world
There's nothing to cry for
No one to die for
Wonderful
In a perfect world
Our father's father says that
Things were better then
How easy they forgot
On every page in every book of history
A thousand tears were shed
There's hope in our hearts
And love in our eyes
Day after day I keep searching
Why tell me why
Is it all so hard to find
I pray each day
For a perfect world,
Show me the way I'm to understand
That you prove to myself that I'm a man
And you love, but you can't look from above
Travel cross the seven seas to be with you
Passion and desire will see me through
The road that I must travel will wind and curl
You're all I ever needed in a perfect world
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
I forgot what a great song this is ! whole Bridge album here: youtube.com/watch
I love rhythm and the synth-timbale rolls. It's an existential quest, a pilgrimage, a realization that the present world is fallen and marred beyond repair.
What are they whispering in the background in the final stanzas? Sounds like "believe in Love" or "believe in luck" (but perhaps it far more sinister...)
@NomadMonad "Live and love "