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.
If we try too hard, forgive us
If we try too hard
If we think too much, control us
If we think too much
Take a bow in front of us, now
Take a bow in spite of us, now
If we want too much, ignore us
If we want too much
Can we give some back in offer?
Can we give some back?
Take a bow in front of us, now
Take a bow in spite of us, now
And lo, our voice became one
And the tide did turn
And there were voices overhead
What's done is done
And we forgot compassion
For we had won
And choice for all is ours alone
What's won is won
We have time enough to take you
We have time enough
And when we succeed, we'll break you
And we will succeed
Take a bow in front of us, now
Take a long last look at us, now
And victor's justice is ours
And you'll have none
All life is ours to justify
We won, we won
And it's our right to own you
And you'll succumb
And freedom's ours for evermore
Your lives are done
If we try too hard
If we think too much, control us
If we think too much
Take a bow in front of us, now
Take a bow in spite of us, now
If we want too much, ignore us
If we want too much
Can we give some back in offer?
Can we give some back?
Take a bow in front of us, now
Take a bow in spite of us, now
And lo, our voice became one
And the tide did turn
And there were voices overhead
What's done is done
And we forgot compassion
For we had won
And choice for all is ours alone
What's won is won
We have time enough to take you
We have time enough
And when we succeed, we'll break you
And we will succeed
Take a bow in front of us, now
Take a long last look at us, now
And victor's justice is ours
And you'll have none
All life is ours to justify
We won, we won
And it's our right to own you
And you'll succumb
And freedom's ours for evermore
Your lives are done
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I've always heard this song and thought about the Roman Empire... The last lines especially "And it's our right to own you ..." give me that owner/slave vibe, which isn't unique to Rome but it's what stuck for me. Weird.
Anyway you see it, this is definitely one of the best Delgados songs there is... Emma Pollock's voice floats above and behind the other vocals beautifully.