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.
Yes
I wanna have it
Yes yes
I wanna have you now
But I can't be the lighter
I can't be the lighter
I wanna go there
Yes yes
I wanna show you how
But I can't be the lighter
I can't be the lighter
Just in case you never knew
I can't be the lighter
Of your eternal flame
Oh! oceans, rivers, lakes
That we could swim as two
But I already own my
Own body of water
You'll follow me and
Yes, yes
I'll follow you,
It's true
But I'm already certain
I've got good directions
Just in case you never knew
I won't be becoming
I am the beginning
And I'm already
Done
These yes days,
They've come and gone
Not always going to make
The same mistakes
It's too simple, I saw the truth
And truth is the terror of the one
Who feels their lace can be stained
But I cannot stain your white lace, baby
Even you cannot stain your white lace baby
No
I'll never go there
No no
I'll never take that route
'cause I won't be the fighter
I won' t be the fighter
Don't ever push me
No, no, don't ever make me shoot
'cause I won't be the fighter
I won't be the fighter
Just in case you never knew
I won't be the fighter
For your eternal flame
Just in case you never knew
I won't be becoming
I am the beginning
And I'm already
Done
Just in case you never knew
I can't be the lighter
Of your eternal flame
I wanna have it
Yes yes
I wanna have you now
But I can't be the lighter
I can't be the lighter
I wanna go there
Yes yes
I wanna show you how
But I can't be the lighter
I can't be the lighter
Just in case you never knew
I can't be the lighter
Of your eternal flame
Oh! oceans, rivers, lakes
That we could swim as two
But I already own my
Own body of water
You'll follow me and
Yes, yes
I'll follow you,
It's true
But I'm already certain
I've got good directions
Just in case you never knew
I won't be becoming
I am the beginning
And I'm already
Done
These yes days,
They've come and gone
Not always going to make
The same mistakes
It's too simple, I saw the truth
And truth is the terror of the one
Who feels their lace can be stained
But I cannot stain your white lace, baby
Even you cannot stain your white lace baby
No
I'll never go there
No no
I'll never take that route
'cause I won't be the fighter
I won' t be the fighter
Don't ever push me
No, no, don't ever make me shoot
'cause I won't be the fighter
I won't be the fighter
Just in case you never knew
I won't be the fighter
For your eternal flame
Just in case you never knew
I won't be becoming
I am the beginning
And I'm already
Done
Just in case you never knew
I can't be the lighter
Of your eternal flame
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These lyrics are so incredible when read aloud, let alone sung. Anyway...
I think this is about dependence in relationships. So many people look to their lovers for validation and happiness; she's efusing to be the souce of either. It's about the disconnect that forms when one person's independence makes the other feel inadequate.