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 must be wondering how,
The boy next door turned out,
Have a care,
But don't stare,
Because he's still there
Lamenting policewomen policemen silly women taxmen,
Uniformed whores,
They who wish to hurt you, Work within the law
This world is full,
So full of crashing bores,
And I must be one,
'Cos no one ever turns to me to say
Take me in your arms,
Take me in your arms,
And love me
You must be wondering how,
The boy next door turned out,
Have a care,
And say a prayer,
Because he's still there
Lamenting policewomen policemen silly women taxmen,
Uniformed whores,
Educated criminals,
Work within the law
This world is full,
Oh oh,
So full of crashing bores,
And I must be one, 'cause no one ever turns to me to say
Take me in your arms,
Take me in your arms,
And love me,
And love me
What really lies,
Beyond the constraints of my mind,
Could it be the sea,
With fate mooning back at me
No it's just more lock jawed pop stars,
Thicker than pig shit,
Nothing to convey
They're so scared to show intelligence,
It might smear their lovely career
This world, I am afraid,
Is designed for crashing bores,
I am not one, I am not one
You don't understand,
You don't understand,
And yet you can,
Take me in your arms and love me,
Love me,
And love me
Take me in your arms and love me,
Love me, love me,
Take me in your arms and love me,
Take me in your arms and love me
Would you do,
Would you do,
What you should do,
Oh oh oh, oh oh
The boy next door turned out,
Have a care,
But don't stare,
Because he's still there
Lamenting policewomen policemen silly women taxmen,
Uniformed whores,
They who wish to hurt you, Work within the law
This world is full,
So full of crashing bores,
And I must be one,
'Cos no one ever turns to me to say
Take me in your arms,
Take me in your arms,
And love me
You must be wondering how,
The boy next door turned out,
Have a care,
And say a prayer,
Because he's still there
Lamenting policewomen policemen silly women taxmen,
Uniformed whores,
Educated criminals,
Work within the law
This world is full,
Oh oh,
So full of crashing bores,
And I must be one, 'cause no one ever turns to me to say
Take me in your arms,
Take me in your arms,
And love me,
And love me
What really lies,
Beyond the constraints of my mind,
Could it be the sea,
With fate mooning back at me
No it's just more lock jawed pop stars,
Thicker than pig shit,
Nothing to convey
They're so scared to show intelligence,
It might smear their lovely career
This world, I am afraid,
Is designed for crashing bores,
I am not one, I am not one
You don't understand,
You don't understand,
And yet you can,
Take me in your arms and love me,
Love me,
And love me
Take me in your arms and love me,
Love me, love me,
Take me in your arms and love me,
Take me in your arms and love me
Would you do,
Would you do,
What you should do,
Oh oh oh, oh oh
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Should be "with fate mooning back at me".
A spot on diatribe against all the crap of the world and also a self conscious side swipe at himself.