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.
In the wilderness uncountable voices
Earplugs for the birds and the animals
And blinders for your beast of burden, the will For learning
These books were made for burning
In the wilderness
Beneath the ancient sand lies crushed and tanned Those sapphire girls
May we never forget you
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
In the wilderness the only place to find freedom is in the dictionary
Under "F"
Men in holes, men in caves, men in chains I ask But the store clerk needn't check
Man I forget which came first
The bad idea or me befallen by it?
Not giving a shit may we never forget you
May we never forget you
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
In the wilderness
Senile live the zealous
Lost to the treasures that compel us
Muted down like patriots amiss
You know I'm jealous of how you can just turn them off
Those bad ideas that feel so soft
May they never forget you
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
Earplugs for the birds and the animals
And blinders for your beast of burden, the will For learning
These books were made for burning
In the wilderness
Beneath the ancient sand lies crushed and tanned Those sapphire girls
May we never forget you
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
In the wilderness the only place to find freedom is in the dictionary
Under "F"
Men in holes, men in caves, men in chains I ask But the store clerk needn't check
Man I forget which came first
The bad idea or me befallen by it?
Not giving a shit may we never forget you
May we never forget you
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
In the wilderness
Senile live the zealous
Lost to the treasures that compel us
Muted down like patriots amiss
You know I'm jealous of how you can just turn them off
Those bad ideas that feel so soft
May they never forget you
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
Alert status red
But the sun comes up instead
Lyrics submitted by good_times
Alert Status Red Lyrics as written by Matthew Good
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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A criticism of the willingness of people to abandon "soft" ideas of civil liberty because of the fear of terrorism, despite the limited damage terrorism can actually do. "The sun comes up instead". The title and chorus refrain refers to the much mocked colour coded terrorism alert status that was abandoned some years later.