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.
My eyes burn naked,
My black cold numbers,
My insecurities,
My devious nature,
Make it go away.
My rest between rubber,
My spider shadow,
My shattered [shadow] dancer.
Beautiful, broken,
My crystal fingers.
Beautiful, broken,
My crystal fingers.
My glass like rain,
My illumination,
My cracks are sliding,
Shaker, feather,
Rubber, duster,
Cold, cold,
Your fingers, broken.
Beautiful, wonderful,
Paper flaps,
How you love,
Love to love,
Love and stitch,
Shaker, rubber, striper.
Beautiful, broken,
My crystal fingers.
Beautiful, broken,
My crystal fingers.
My black cold numbers,
My insecurities,
My devious nature,
Make it go away.
My rest between rubber,
My spider shadow,
My shattered [shadow] dancer.
Beautiful, broken,
My crystal fingers.
Beautiful, broken,
My crystal fingers.
My glass like rain,
My illumination,
My cracks are sliding,
Shaker, feather,
Rubber, duster,
Cold, cold,
Your fingers, broken.
Beautiful, wonderful,
Paper flaps,
How you love,
Love to love,
Love and stitch,
Shaker, rubber, striper.
Beautiful, broken,
My crystal fingers.
Beautiful, broken,
My crystal fingers.
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I tripped on shrooms to this song. Changed my life. I definitely get a whole new meaning to this song after tripping and listening to it.
Dude, same here. The first time I did shrooms I was in college shortly after this album came out. My roomates and I had spent the afternoon tripping in the park and we had just returned to the house around sunset to come down when my buddy put this album on. I remember the four of us sitting around the house on couches smoking a hookah and quietly processing the experience, and then "Sola Sistim" started playing, which was the first time I'd heard it. The song just completely blew my mind - the slow groove, insanely-deep bass, spacey snyths, and abstract lyrics just fit the mood of the moment so perfectly. <br /> <br /> Even now 10 years later this song will pop up on my iTunes playlist and it just takes me right back to that moment. I can practically feel my blood pressure drop and muscles relax instantly as soon as it starts playing. Such a great track.