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.
Watchin' a stretch of road
Miles of light explode
Driftin' off a thing I'd never done before
Watchin' a crowd roll in
Out go the lights it begins
A feelin' in my bones I never felt before
Mmh, people always told me
That bars are dark and lonely
And talk is often cheap and filled with air
Sure sometimes they thrill me
But nothin' could ever chill me
Like the way they make the time just disappear
Feelin' you here again
Hot on my skin again
Feelin good a thing I'd never known before
What does it mean to feel? Millions of dreams come real
A feelin' in my soul I'd never felt before, mmh
And you you always told me
No matter how long it holds me
If it falls apart
Or makes us millionaire
You'll be right here forever
We'll go thru this thing together
And on heaven's golden shore we'll lay our heads
Miles of light explode
Driftin' off a thing I'd never done before
Watchin' a crowd roll in
Out go the lights it begins
A feelin' in my bones I never felt before
Mmh, people always told me
That bars are dark and lonely
And talk is often cheap and filled with air
Sure sometimes they thrill me
But nothin' could ever chill me
Like the way they make the time just disappear
Feelin' you here again
Hot on my skin again
Feelin good a thing I'd never known before
What does it mean to feel? Millions of dreams come real
A feelin' in my soul I'd never felt before, mmh
And you you always told me
No matter how long it holds me
If it falls apart
Or makes us millionaire
You'll be right here forever
We'll go thru this thing together
And on heaven's golden shore we'll lay our heads
Lyrics submitted by sarahsavedlatin
Golden Lyrics as written by James Edward Olliges Jr
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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To me it is talking about life. Life is a road, there is a lot of light and hope ahead of you. You grow up and get older and the world gets smaller. You aren't alone anymore, but for some reason things just seem more bleak and depressing.
The middle of the song he realizes that everyone was right when they said life was hell, life is a prison, even though before he wouldn't admit it.
Suddenly he finds something to brighten his life again, a person. His world is lit up anew because of love.