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.
Look what you've done,
You gigolo.
You know that I loved you, hon,
And I didn't want to know
That your cool,
Seductive serenade
Was a tool
Of your trade,
You gigolo.
Of all the riches you've surveyed,
And all that you can lift,
I'm just another dollar that you made
In your long, long grift.
Look what you've done,
You gigolo.
Another hustle has been run,
But now you ought to know
That this fool
Can no longer be swayed
By the tools
Of your trade,
You gigolo.
I'm just another john you've gypped,
Another sucker stiffed,
Just a walk on role in the script
To your long, long grift.
The love that had me in your grip
Was just a long, long grift.
You gigolo.
You know that I loved you, hon,
And I didn't want to know
That your cool,
Seductive serenade
Was a tool
Of your trade,
You gigolo.
Of all the riches you've surveyed,
And all that you can lift,
I'm just another dollar that you made
In your long, long grift.
Look what you've done,
You gigolo.
Another hustle has been run,
But now you ought to know
That this fool
Can no longer be swayed
By the tools
Of your trade,
You gigolo.
I'm just another john you've gypped,
Another sucker stiffed,
Just a walk on role in the script
To your long, long grift.
The love that had me in your grip
Was just a long, long grift.
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Cover of a song from the off-Broadway musical, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch".