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.
The first heaven is silver
And you are silver you shine white light
The second heaven's sacred,
And you are sacred of pure soul
The third heaven is pearl
And your name is forever written
[Chorus]
Oh don't walk away
No don't walk away
I'm walking in the presence of love
I'm walking in the seventh heaven
I'm alive with the agony, the ecstasy
Strive for the pleasure and the pain
I'm walking in the presence of love.
The fourth heaven is white gold
And you cry white golden tears
The fifth heaven is holy
You are the angel of sweet mercy
The sixth heaven is of ruby
Of the wind and of the earth
Oh don't walk away
No don't walk away
I'm walking in the presence of love
I'm walking in the seventh heaven
I'm alive with the agony, the ecstasy
Strive for the pleasure and the pain
I'm walking in the presence of love.
I don't want to die in a hell on earth
In the valley below in the pain and the hurt
In the sea of Danger drowning me
There's a ray of hope when I'm walking in the
Presence of love
[Chorus]
And you are silver you shine white light
The second heaven's sacred,
And you are sacred of pure soul
The third heaven is pearl
And your name is forever written
[Chorus]
Oh don't walk away
No don't walk away
I'm walking in the presence of love
I'm walking in the seventh heaven
I'm alive with the agony, the ecstasy
Strive for the pleasure and the pain
I'm walking in the presence of love.
The fourth heaven is white gold
And you cry white golden tears
The fifth heaven is holy
You are the angel of sweet mercy
The sixth heaven is of ruby
Of the wind and of the earth
Oh don't walk away
No don't walk away
I'm walking in the presence of love
I'm walking in the seventh heaven
I'm alive with the agony, the ecstasy
Strive for the pleasure and the pain
I'm walking in the presence of love.
I don't want to die in a hell on earth
In the valley below in the pain and the hurt
In the sea of Danger drowning me
There's a ray of hope when I'm walking in the
Presence of love
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by Cardiff Giant
Presence of Love Lyrics as written by Michael Leslie Peters Edward James Mac Donald
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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A beautiful song. The part that really hits me is "in the see of danger drowning me there's a ray of hope when i'm walking in the presence of love". Seems pretty self explanatory, when you feel love or the chance of love you feel like you can overcome almost any obstacle.