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.
Please, please be my light filter
Shine, make me a shelter
To hide this love
Makes you lose your sign
Now the search rise is on its way
And the flood lights are on my face
All the shadows that I woke up in
Are just my volatile second skin
My reflections are protections
They will keep me from destruction
My directions are distractions
When you're ready come into the light
Lines, design a pathway
Shine, cut out the dark shapes
To find, although I really tried
Only time is a lover's guide
And now the ratings fall away
And the stencils draw a face
Our outlines in the sunset
Are just a fragile silhouette
My reflections are protections
They will keep me from destruction
My directions are distractions
When you're ready come into the light
My reflections are protections
They will keep me from destruction
My directions are distractions
If you leave me, I'll go back to hide
My reflections are protections
They will keep me from destruction
My directions are distractions
When you're ready come into the light
My reflections are protections
They will keep me from destruction
My directions are distractions
If you leave me, I'll go back to hide
Shine, make me a shelter
To hide this love
Makes you lose your sign
Now the search rise is on its way
And the flood lights are on my face
All the shadows that I woke up in
Are just my volatile second skin
My reflections are protections
They will keep me from destruction
My directions are distractions
When you're ready come into the light
Lines, design a pathway
Shine, cut out the dark shapes
To find, although I really tried
Only time is a lover's guide
And now the ratings fall away
And the stencils draw a face
Our outlines in the sunset
Are just a fragile silhouette
My reflections are protections
They will keep me from destruction
My directions are distractions
When you're ready come into the light
My reflections are protections
They will keep me from destruction
My directions are distractions
If you leave me, I'll go back to hide
My reflections are protections
They will keep me from destruction
My directions are distractions
When you're ready come into the light
My reflections are protections
They will keep me from destruction
My directions are distractions
If you leave me, I'll go back to hide
Lyrics submitted by polkadot.peekaboo
Reflections Are Protection Lyrics as written by Elly Jackson Ben Langmaid
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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It's about being hurt but moving on and learning from the experience - reflections are protection, i.e. thinking over what she's done and what she's learnt from the experience, which will protect her in future, and directions as distractions - she's moving on doing stuff to keep her busy from thinking about it. Also 'love makes you lose your site' and 'only time is a lover's guide' means she's been hurt and is learning from her experience.
*sight, oops.