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'm so lonely on my way
Waiting for a better day
Only one thing left behind -
A world of lust and crime
There's no place for me to hide
I don't know what's wrong or right
Pain and sorrow in my mind
A world of lust and crime
See the wise man in the graveyard
Scream and cry the different story
Lonely people in his own heart
Know the answer just for everything
Love turns a friendly card
With a different story
And a love in your heart
forever
Love is an endless game
You don't have to worry
'cause it's easy to play
There's a chance for me and you
Making all our dreams come true
Trust in love and you won't find
A world of lust and crime
See the wise man in the graveyard
Scream and cry the different story
Lonely people in his own heart
Know the answer just for everything
Love turns a friendly card
With a different story
And a love in your heart
forever
Love is an endless game
You don't have to worry
'cause it's easy to play
See the wise man in the graveyard
Scream and cry the different story
Lonely people in his own heart
Know the light of hope and glory
Waiting for a better day
Only one thing left behind -
A world of lust and crime
There's no place for me to hide
I don't know what's wrong or right
Pain and sorrow in my mind
A world of lust and crime
See the wise man in the graveyard
Scream and cry the different story
Lonely people in his own heart
Know the answer just for everything
Love turns a friendly card
With a different story
And a love in your heart
forever
Love is an endless game
You don't have to worry
'cause it's easy to play
There's a chance for me and you
Making all our dreams come true
Trust in love and you won't find
A world of lust and crime
See the wise man in the graveyard
Scream and cry the different story
Lonely people in his own heart
Know the answer just for everything
Love turns a friendly card
With a different story
And a love in your heart
forever
Love is an endless game
You don't have to worry
'cause it's easy to play
See the wise man in the graveyard
Scream and cry the different story
Lonely people in his own heart
Know the light of hope and glory
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The wise man in the graveyard is the one who really understands things here. He's trying to get people to stop being in a superficial, image-is-everything world and trying to get people to put substance behind the image. This is the world of lust and crime.