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.
The sky is red, I don't understand
Past midnight I still see the land
People are sayin' the woman is damned
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand
The city's ablaze, the town's on fire
The woman's flames are reaching higher
We were fools, we called her liar
All I hear is, "Burn"
I didn't believe she was devil's spawn
She said, "Curse you all, you'll never learn
When I leave there's no return "
The people laughed till she said, "Burn"
Warning came, no one cared
Earth was shakin', we stood and stared
When it came, no one was spared
Still I hear, "Burn"
You know we had no time
We could not even try
You know we had no time
You know we had no time
We could not even try
You know we had no time
The sky is red, I don't understand
Past midnight I still see the land
People are sayin' the woman is damned
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand
Warning came, no one cared
Earth was shakin, we stood and stared
When it came, no one was spared
Still I hear, "Burn"
Past midnight I still see the land
People are sayin' the woman is damned
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand
The city's ablaze, the town's on fire
The woman's flames are reaching higher
We were fools, we called her liar
All I hear is, "Burn"
I didn't believe she was devil's spawn
She said, "Curse you all, you'll never learn
When I leave there's no return "
The people laughed till she said, "Burn"
Warning came, no one cared
Earth was shakin', we stood and stared
When it came, no one was spared
Still I hear, "Burn"
You know we had no time
We could not even try
You know we had no time
You know we had no time
We could not even try
You know we had no time
The sky is red, I don't understand
Past midnight I still see the land
People are sayin' the woman is damned
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand
Warning came, no one cared
Earth was shakin, we stood and stared
When it came, no one was spared
Still I hear, "Burn"
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All I know is . . . .
John Lord.