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.
Tight toy night, streets so bright
The room looked so thin between my bones and skin
There stood another person who was a little surprised
To be face to face with a world so alive
How I fell (did you feel low?)
No (huh?)
I fell right into the arms of Venus de Milo
You know it's all like some new kind of drug
My senses are sharp and my hands are like gloves
And Broadway looked so medieval
It seemed to flap, like little pages
I fell sideways laughing
With a friend from many stages
How I fell (did you feel low?)
Not at all (huh?)
I fell right into the arms of Venus de Milo
Suddenly, my eyes went so soft and shaky
I knew there was pain, but pain is not aching
Then Richie, Richie said
"Hey man, let's dress up like cops, think of what we could do"
But something, oh, something
It said, "Hey, you'd better not"
And I fell (did you feel low?)
Nah (huh?)
I stood up, walked out of the arms of Venus de Milo
The room looked so thin between my bones and skin
There stood another person who was a little surprised
To be face to face with a world so alive
How I fell (did you feel low?)
No (huh?)
I fell right into the arms of Venus de Milo
You know it's all like some new kind of drug
My senses are sharp and my hands are like gloves
And Broadway looked so medieval
It seemed to flap, like little pages
I fell sideways laughing
With a friend from many stages
How I fell (did you feel low?)
Not at all (huh?)
I fell right into the arms of Venus de Milo
Suddenly, my eyes went so soft and shaky
I knew there was pain, but pain is not aching
Then Richie, Richie said
"Hey man, let's dress up like cops, think of what we could do"
But something, oh, something
It said, "Hey, you'd better not"
And I fell (did you feel low?)
Nah (huh?)
I stood up, walked out of the arms of Venus de Milo
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I think this song is about resilience. Being faced with the issues of everyday life and falling down but getting back up hence falling into the "arms" of Venus DeMilo. The statue has no arms. So you fall down but you stand back up and "walk away" (keep moving on). Not feeling bad about hardship because it only makes you stronger and a wiser being. I believe the line "You know it's all like some new kind of drug" is a simile for seeing things in a new light after an experience. I find Verlaine's optimistic mindset portrayed in this song very pleasant considering most people only complain about their issues rather than being intelligent enough to learn from them.