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.
Once in a lifetime something happens no one understands
Turns the whole world inside out, turns water into blazing sand
Who in the world who ever guess that something wasn't right
Who can explain when the sun comes up in the middle of a winter night
I'm burnin' up now baby
I'm burnin' up now baby, baby please
Who would have guessed that when I first set eyes upon your face
History would be rearranged and nothing would ever be the same
Who would believe that in my heart is a piece of burning coal
Slowly turning from a fire to a raging blaze without control
I'm burnin' up now baby, I'm burnin' up now baby
I've seen so much, it scares me
I can't cool off cause something isn't right
What do you think would happen if I sat outside your door
Howled like a dog and played guitar and begged you baby, baby please
How do you think your folks would feel if I broke into your house
Snuck in your room while you were asleep
And prayed to you down on my knees
I'm burnin' up now baby
I'm burnin' up now baby
I've seen so much, it scares me
I can't cool off cause something isn't right
Who in the world would ever guess
That somewhere in the middle of our cozy nest?
There were dark things lurking in the back of your mind
Just open the window and look with your eyes?
Where in the good book does it say
That destiny cannot be changed
Who in the world would ever know
If you walked out the door and never came home
'Cause something is not right
Turns the whole world inside out, turns water into blazing sand
Who in the world who ever guess that something wasn't right
Who can explain when the sun comes up in the middle of a winter night
I'm burnin' up now baby
I'm burnin' up now baby, baby please
Who would have guessed that when I first set eyes upon your face
History would be rearranged and nothing would ever be the same
Who would believe that in my heart is a piece of burning coal
Slowly turning from a fire to a raging blaze without control
I'm burnin' up now baby, I'm burnin' up now baby
I've seen so much, it scares me
I can't cool off cause something isn't right
What do you think would happen if I sat outside your door
Howled like a dog and played guitar and begged you baby, baby please
How do you think your folks would feel if I broke into your house
Snuck in your room while you were asleep
And prayed to you down on my knees
I'm burnin' up now baby
I'm burnin' up now baby
I've seen so much, it scares me
I can't cool off cause something isn't right
Who in the world would ever guess
That somewhere in the middle of our cozy nest?
There were dark things lurking in the back of your mind
Just open the window and look with your eyes?
Where in the good book does it say
That destiny cannot be changed
Who in the world would ever know
If you walked out the door and never came home
'Cause something is not right
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Singer is looking for some action from his girlfriend. It's a bit ambiguous as to whether or not he gets an; however, it's clear that things get stopped by some unknown thing.