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.
For Sale: The Preston School of Industry
Has closed its doors now,
We’re all waiting for the chance
To take a break and then kill yourself
And I know it’s true
Ah… No, no, no, no
For Sale: The Preston School of Industry (and Architecture)
Has closed its doors now
Closed its doors now, forever I know (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Situated on a hill (Ah Lo, Lo, Lo, la, la, la)
It took my soul, it took my soul (forever and ever and ever)
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Da da dada da da da dadada,
Da da dada da da da da da da da
Never, Never, Never, Never, Never
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Has closed its doors now,
We’re all waiting for the chance
To take a break and then kill yourself
And I know it’s true
Ah… No, no, no, no
For Sale: The Preston School of Industry (and Architecture)
Has closed its doors now
Closed its doors now, forever I know (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Situated on a hill (Ah Lo, Lo, Lo, la, la, la)
It took my soul, it took my soul (forever and ever and ever)
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Da da dada da da da dadada,
Da da dada da da da da da da da
Never, Never, Never, Never, Never
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Lyrics submitted by Thief-
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There was a place called Preston School of Industry around Stockton California. It later became the name for Spiral Stairs' (Scott Kannberg) new band. This song was written on a dutch television program, and the lyrics, to me, were just about the place, and a quick fix for a need of lyrics. Love the song.