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.
There is no terror in my heart
Death is with us all
We suck him down with our first breath
And spit him out as we fall
There is no terror in my heart
No dread of the unknown
Desire for paradise to be
We love this on our own
I don't want you anywhere near me
I don't want you anywhere near me
Get your fucking world out of my head
I don't want you anywhere near me
I don't want you anywhere near me
Get your fucking world out of my head
I don't want your us or them
I don't need your us or them
I don't want your us or them
I don't need your us or them
Your us or them
I live in knowledge of real truth
And all my gods are great
The doleful can't of a bigot
Blinded by fear and hate
You live in knowledge of real truth?
The biggest lie I heard
How sick in your mind and your soul
To be scared of my voice and my words
You don't want me anywhere near you
You don't want me anywhere near you
Get my fucking head out of your world
You don't want me anywhere near you
You don't want me anywhere near you
Get my fucking head out of your world
I don't want your us or them
I don't need your us or them
I don't want your us or them
I don't need your us or them
The only way this ever ends is me!
Death is with us all
We suck him down with our first breath
And spit him out as we fall
There is no terror in my heart
No dread of the unknown
Desire for paradise to be
We love this on our own
I don't want you anywhere near me
I don't want you anywhere near me
Get your fucking world out of my head
I don't want you anywhere near me
I don't want you anywhere near me
Get your fucking world out of my head
I don't want your us or them
I don't need your us or them
I don't want your us or them
I don't need your us or them
Your us or them
I live in knowledge of real truth
And all my gods are great
The doleful can't of a bigot
Blinded by fear and hate
You live in knowledge of real truth?
The biggest lie I heard
How sick in your mind and your soul
To be scared of my voice and my words
You don't want me anywhere near you
You don't want me anywhere near you
Get my fucking head out of your world
You don't want me anywhere near you
You don't want me anywhere near you
Get my fucking head out of your world
I don't want your us or them
I don't need your us or them
I don't want your us or them
I don't need your us or them
The only way this ever ends is me!
Lyrics submitted by rocketqueenz
Us or Them Lyrics as written by Perry Bamonte Jason Toop Cooper
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I thought this was a political song when I first heard it, but now I'm not so sure.
It seems a little deeper than that. Perhaps more a general comment on society, and the way we align ourselves along political, cultural and racial lines. Or perhaps unbridled misanthropy?
I like the comment above comparing this to Imagine :D might have something there!