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 was standing in the jungle, I was feeling alright
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm
I was wondering in the darkness, in the middle of the night
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm
The moon began to shine, I saw a clearing ahead
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm
But what`s that going on, I think I`m outta my head
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm.
Chooka chooka hoo la ley
Looka looka koo la ley.
A hundred animals were gathered `round in the night
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm
And they were singing out a lovely song under the pale moonlight
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm
I stood and stared for quite a while
Then a lion sang to me and smiled:
"Come join us if you so desire."
Chooka chooka hoo la ley
Looka looka koo la ley.
I said now please explain the meaning of this song you sing
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm
"Wondrous is our great blue ship
That sails around the might sun
And joy to everyone that rides along!"
Chooka chooka hoo la ley
Looka looka koo la ley.
And they danced!
Pretty soon I knew the tune and
We sat and sang under the moon
And the jungle rang in joyful harmony.
Chooka chooka hoo la ley
Looka looka koo la ley.
Chooka chooka hoo la ley
Looka looka koo la ley.
"Wondrous is our great blue ship
That sails around the might sun
And joy to everyone that rides along!"
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm
I was wondering in the darkness, in the middle of the night
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm
The moon began to shine, I saw a clearing ahead
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm
But what`s that going on, I think I`m outta my head
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm.
Chooka chooka hoo la ley
Looka looka koo la ley.
A hundred animals were gathered `round in the night
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm
And they were singing out a lovely song under the pale moonlight
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm
I stood and stared for quite a while
Then a lion sang to me and smiled:
"Come join us if you so desire."
Chooka chooka hoo la ley
Looka looka koo la ley.
I said now please explain the meaning of this song you sing
Mmmhmmm, Mmmhmmm
"Wondrous is our great blue ship
That sails around the might sun
And joy to everyone that rides along!"
Chooka chooka hoo la ley
Looka looka koo la ley.
And they danced!
Pretty soon I knew the tune and
We sat and sang under the moon
And the jungle rang in joyful harmony.
Chooka chooka hoo la ley
Looka looka koo la ley.
Chooka chooka hoo la ley
Looka looka koo la ley.
"Wondrous is our great blue ship
That sails around the might sun
And joy to everyone that rides along!"
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I've always believed that, at the end, the bell that rings is an alarm clock, meaning the whole thing is a dream. There's a nice echo of the chorus after the bell, which is like remembering a fragment of your dream when you wake up.