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.
I have spent all my previous life
Waiting for something else to start
Now I see that I have felt so numb
To everything that passed me by
Need to go land on my own two feet
Need to change my life this way
Need to free my mind of memories
Watch them how they screw my brain
The time that has come
Convinced what I feel inside
In darkness I float
How far is the light?
Inside fearland
Don't want you to know
Outside fearless
I do want you to watch
Do you mind?
Would you step aside
Make way for me
Can't you see I'm dead set on doing this
Enough of dreamless nights
Enough of sleepless nights
I'm the way I am
Get out of my sight
Do you mind?
You can put me in the Lion's cage
You can take my soul
Give a second name
But I don't intend to stop my fight
And I'm not afraid
Not afraid
Waiting for something else to start
Now I see that I have felt so numb
To everything that passed me by
Need to go land on my own two feet
Need to change my life this way
Need to free my mind of memories
Watch them how they screw my brain
The time that has come
Convinced what I feel inside
In darkness I float
How far is the light?
Inside fearland
Don't want you to know
Outside fearless
I do want you to watch
Do you mind?
Would you step aside
Make way for me
Can't you see I'm dead set on doing this
Enough of dreamless nights
Enough of sleepless nights
I'm the way I am
Get out of my sight
Do you mind?
You can put me in the Lion's cage
You can take my soul
Give a second name
But I don't intend to stop my fight
And I'm not afraid
Not afraid
Lyrics submitted by the_tourist
Volte-Face Lyrics as written by Serigne M'baye Gueye Chivorn Chin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Another thought ... are the lines "I am not afraid" a battle cry (that is motivating them and a shout out at the "bad" self) OR is it a sign of fear, that is trying to speak themselves up because they lack confidence/are really afraid but trying to mask it??