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 in love with you I know
And I know that you love me too
I'm in love with you I know
I'm in love with everyone too
We're all comrades now you know
We're all brothers under the skin
With a few adjustments now
Living in the perfect system
The adjustment's simple there is really no pain
You'll hardly notice anything has changed
Living in a programmed life never really has ups and downs
There's no need for fighting now
There's no reason to wear a frown
In a perfect system
There's no confrontation
Unnecessary friction
To impede our concentration
We've simply done away with
Unnecessary friction
I live in a system
I got an occupation
I get enough nutrition
By eating protein biscuits
Recommended by the system
It's routine regulation
I had an operation . . .
I'm in love with you I know
And I know that you love me too
I'm in love with you I know
I'm in love with everyone too
I can tell by the look in your blank dull eyes
That you agree, but I'm not a bit surprised
Living in a programmed life never really has ups and downs
There's no need for fighting now
There's no reason to wear a frown
I had an operation
With no adverse reaction
They tampered with my brain some
It helped me see the reason
For living in the system
It helped me see the reason
(We're all brothers in a perfect world)
In a perfect world there's uniformity
(We're all brothers in a perfect world)
In a perfect world there's conformity
(We're all brothers in a perfect world)
There's no need for spontaneity
Perfect system we're all brothers to the end
Brothers to the end
Brothers to the end
I know and I know that you love me too
(Brothers to the end) I know I'm in love with everyone too
(Brothers to the end) I know we're all comrades under the skin
(Brothers to the end) I know living in a perfect system
BROTHERS TO THE END
And I know that you love me too
I'm in love with you I know
I'm in love with everyone too
We're all comrades now you know
We're all brothers under the skin
With a few adjustments now
Living in the perfect system
The adjustment's simple there is really no pain
You'll hardly notice anything has changed
Living in a programmed life never really has ups and downs
There's no need for fighting now
There's no reason to wear a frown
In a perfect system
There's no confrontation
Unnecessary friction
To impede our concentration
We've simply done away with
Unnecessary friction
I live in a system
I got an occupation
I get enough nutrition
By eating protein biscuits
Recommended by the system
It's routine regulation
I had an operation . . .
I'm in love with you I know
And I know that you love me too
I'm in love with you I know
I'm in love with everyone too
I can tell by the look in your blank dull eyes
That you agree, but I'm not a bit surprised
Living in a programmed life never really has ups and downs
There's no need for fighting now
There's no reason to wear a frown
I had an operation
With no adverse reaction
They tampered with my brain some
It helped me see the reason
For living in the system
It helped me see the reason
(We're all brothers in a perfect world)
In a perfect world there's uniformity
(We're all brothers in a perfect world)
In a perfect world there's conformity
(We're all brothers in a perfect world)
There's no need for spontaneity
Perfect system we're all brothers to the end
Brothers to the end
Brothers to the end
I know and I know that you love me too
(Brothers to the end) I know I'm in love with everyone too
(Brothers to the end) I know we're all comrades under the skin
(Brothers to the end) I know living in a perfect system
BROTHERS TO THE END
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It's about the costs of living under a totalitarian government (communism, fascism, capitalism, doesn't matter) and the sacrifice of self required of individuals in such a society. A common theme for Mr. Elfman who clearly read Orwell, Kafka, Huxley, and other dystopian visions of 'perfect systems'.