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.
Henry lies quietly
Amid his empty room
And probes his open heart
To verify the wound
He receives the phone call
He rewinds the message tape
He walks to the window
Lets the sweat pour down the fire escape
I am listening to you
I am listening to you
And you don't say a word
You don't have to
You don't have to
Empty in the hour
The thought of going on
Feels real
And unreal
Until the feeling's gone
And like a boy that begs for bread
The snapshot is all there is
To remind you of your place
And return you to the hungry masses
I am listening to you
I am listening to you
And you don't say a word
You don't have to
You don't have to
Henry lies quietly
Beneath the ceiling fan
The blades become invisible
And he becomes entranced
No one knows the future
And no one cares about the past
But when a star is dying
We all claim
It couldn't last
I am listening to you
I am listening to you
And you don't say a word
You don't have to
You don't have to
You don't have to
You don't have to
You don't say a word
You don't have to
You don't say a word
You don't have to
You don't say a word
You don't have to
You don't say a word
You don't have to
Amid his empty room
And probes his open heart
To verify the wound
He receives the phone call
He rewinds the message tape
He walks to the window
Lets the sweat pour down the fire escape
I am listening to you
I am listening to you
And you don't say a word
You don't have to
You don't have to
Empty in the hour
The thought of going on
Feels real
And unreal
Until the feeling's gone
And like a boy that begs for bread
The snapshot is all there is
To remind you of your place
And return you to the hungry masses
I am listening to you
I am listening to you
And you don't say a word
You don't have to
You don't have to
Henry lies quietly
Beneath the ceiling fan
The blades become invisible
And he becomes entranced
No one knows the future
And no one cares about the past
But when a star is dying
We all claim
It couldn't last
I am listening to you
I am listening to you
And you don't say a word
You don't have to
You don't have to
You don't have to
You don't have to
You don't say a word
You don't have to
You don't say a word
You don't have to
You don't say a word
You don't have to
You don't say a word
You don't have to
Lyrics submitted by Eamon
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If the lyrics seem familiar to you, this song was the original version of "Listening" that appears on "The Future That Was." Henry, unfortunately, had his lover leave him. The singer is with him and wants to help out, but Henry can't bring himself to say anything, which speaks volumes.