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.
City lights shine on the harbour,
Night has fallen down,
Through the darkness
And the shadow
I will still go on.
[Chorus]
Long, long journey
Through the darkness,
Long, long way to go,
But what are miles
Across the ocean
To the heart that's coming home?
Where the road
Runs through the valley,
Where the river flows,
I will follow every highway
To the place I know.
[Chorus]
Long, long journey
Out of nowhere,
Long, long way to go;
But what are sighs
And what is sadness
To the heart that's coming home?
Night has fallen down,
Through the darkness
And the shadow
I will still go on.
[Chorus]
Long, long journey
Through the darkness,
Long, long way to go,
But what are miles
Across the ocean
To the heart that's coming home?
Where the road
Runs through the valley,
Where the river flows,
I will follow every highway
To the place I know.
[Chorus]
Long, long journey
Out of nowhere,
Long, long way to go;
But what are sighs
And what is sadness
To the heart that's coming home?
Lyrics submitted by eternitygoddess, edited by LilaGabby
Long, Long Journey Lyrics as written by Nicky Ryan Eithne Ni Bhraonain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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This song has helped me through some very difficult times in my life. Especially the lyrics:"through the darkness and the shadow, I will still go on." Makes you feel like no matter how bad things are now, it's only part of that long long journey, and all you have to do is press through the darkness and into the light. Which is ironic because personally I consider darkness to be comforting.