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 brought your face down on my head
It was something I rehearsed in a dream
You're too good looking for your own damn good
And you don't know what it could mean
You've got me dying of thirst in the meantime
It even hurts when I scream
You've got me drowning and still in the meantime
You don't know what it could mean
Because in my drunken stupor
I've got to admire your ingenuity
And I nod my head, oh so wisely
To the rhythm of your cruelty
You've got me dying of thirst in the meantime
It even hurts when I scream
You've got me drowning and still in the meantime
You don't know what it could mean
Because you want to have your price
And something you could hold your faith up to
I don't know how to tell you this
But you've got it coming all the way to you
You don't even know what it could mean
You don't even know what it could mean
I don't know what it could mean
We don't even know what it could mean
It was something I rehearsed in a dream
You're too good looking for your own damn good
And you don't know what it could mean
You've got me dying of thirst in the meantime
It even hurts when I scream
You've got me drowning and still in the meantime
You don't know what it could mean
Because in my drunken stupor
I've got to admire your ingenuity
And I nod my head, oh so wisely
To the rhythm of your cruelty
You've got me dying of thirst in the meantime
It even hurts when I scream
You've got me drowning and still in the meantime
You don't know what it could mean
Because you want to have your price
And something you could hold your faith up to
I don't know how to tell you this
But you've got it coming all the way to you
You don't even know what it could mean
You don't even know what it could mean
I don't know what it could mean
We don't even know what it could mean
Lyrics submitted by nightandday
Rhythm of Cruelty Lyrics as written by Devoto Adamson
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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About a one sided relationship, I've had girls that echo this song