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 will never see the sun
Spadina, St. George, Bay, and Yonge
One for nothing, all for one
Spadina, St. George, Bay and Yonge
Hey you look like royalty
Weren't you born with muddy feet?
Hoarse, in high tops, totally lost
Those two streets will never meet
I will never see the sun
Spadina, St. George, Bay, and Yonge
One for nothing, all for one
Spadina, St. George, Bay and Yonge
So the map says 'you are here'
Waltzing in a garbage pile
Sweating like a weather's vein
Coughing thunder, sneezing rain
I will never see the sun
Spadina, St. George, Bay, and Yonge
One for nothing, all for one
Spadina, St. George, Bay and Yonge
There's a rag just up the street
Eats his history to keep warm
Got some blankets, got some bags
Screams confessions, shouts in vain
I will never see the sun
Spadina, St. George, Bay, and Yonge
One for nothing, all for one
Spadina, St. George, Bay and Yonge
Spadina, St. George, Bay, and Yonge
One for nothing, all for one
Spadina, St. George, Bay and Yonge
Hey you look like royalty
Weren't you born with muddy feet?
Hoarse, in high tops, totally lost
Those two streets will never meet
I will never see the sun
Spadina, St. George, Bay, and Yonge
One for nothing, all for one
Spadina, St. George, Bay and Yonge
So the map says 'you are here'
Waltzing in a garbage pile
Sweating like a weather's vein
Coughing thunder, sneezing rain
I will never see the sun
Spadina, St. George, Bay, and Yonge
One for nothing, all for one
Spadina, St. George, Bay and Yonge
There's a rag just up the street
Eats his history to keep warm
Got some blankets, got some bags
Screams confessions, shouts in vain
I will never see the sun
Spadina, St. George, Bay, and Yonge
One for nothing, all for one
Spadina, St. George, Bay and Yonge
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Right you are, fivedollarstory. Spadina, St. George, Bay and Yonge are all stops along the luxurious Toronto Transit System.
You know, I never thought a song about the dirty subway system in T.O. could be so damn charming or romantic...but there you go. Musicians make miracles.