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 would only be a liar
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
I would only be a liar
When things are all you think of
And plans are all you make
And thoughts are all you dream of
And falls are all you take
Look out, the world's destroyin' ya
Relax, it isn't fair
Mother Nature's disposition
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
And I would only be a liar
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
I would only be a liar
Passing over
Passions pour
Passing everything
I would only be a liar
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
It takes up all of your life
These decisions you make
It takes up all of a day
Making them wrong
Well, outside on the patio
A piano's weeping too
Forget about it all for a little while
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
And I would only be a liar
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
I would only be a liar
You see, it seems minor to me
You see, it seems minor to me
You see, it seems minor to me
You see, it seems minor
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
I would only be a liar
When things are all you think of
And plans are all you make
And thoughts are all you dream of
And falls are all you take
Look out, the world's destroyin' ya
Relax, it isn't fair
Mother Nature's disposition
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
And I would only be a liar
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
I would only be a liar
Passing over
Passions pour
Passing everything
I would only be a liar
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
It takes up all of your life
These decisions you make
It takes up all of a day
Making them wrong
Well, outside on the patio
A piano's weeping too
Forget about it all for a little while
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
And I would only be a liar
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
I would only be a liar
You see, it seems minor to me
You see, it seems minor to me
You see, it seems minor to me
You see, it seems minor
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this song makes me step back and realize that in the big scheme of things, nothing matters... i know that sounds harsh, but it's actually therapeutic. kind of a more poetic 'don't sweat the small stuff' but everything is small stuff....and mother nature has been around way longer than us, and will be for way longer than us, and she doesn't care about the daily drama of our lives...it's absolutely beautiful.
We're not mother nature. Everybody cares. They may lie to themselves and/or to others, but each of us cares. And that's why we suffer in pain from time-to-time. Some just won't admit to having any weaknesses. Great song. Good band.