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.
When you've had enough and you need somebody to know
When you're looking tough but you need a way to let it go
Come on now, what's a boy s'posed to do
When I can't seem to leave you alone
Touching me touching you
I wanna be your brother, wanna be your father too
Never make you run for cover even if they want us to
I wanna be your sister, wanna be your mother too
I wanna be wanna be
Whatever else that touches you
Whatever else that touches you
Whatever else that touches you
If you're ever losing, losing your way
Just stop and listen to the things that they say
To avoid confrontation
You walk away
Growing up when I need to compromise
When I've had enough twenty years and I realize
Come on now, what's a boy s'posed to do
When I can't seem to leave you alone
Touching me touching you
Wanna be your brother, wanna be your father too
Never make you run for cover even if they want us to
I wanna be your sister, wanna be your mother too
I wanna be wanna be
Whatever else that touches you
I wanna be your brother, wanna be your father too
Never make you run for cover even if they want us to
I wanna be your sister, wanna be your mother too
I wanna be wanna be
Whatever else that touches you
Whatever else that touches you
Whatever else that touches you
Whatever else that touches you
Whatever else that touches you
When you've had enough and you need somebody to know
When you're looking tough but you need a way to let it go
Come on now, what's a boy s'posed to do
But I can't seem to leave you alone
Touching me touching you
When you're looking tough but you need a way to let it go
Come on now, what's a boy s'posed to do
When I can't seem to leave you alone
Touching me touching you
I wanna be your brother, wanna be your father too
Never make you run for cover even if they want us to
I wanna be your sister, wanna be your mother too
I wanna be wanna be
Whatever else that touches you
Whatever else that touches you
Whatever else that touches you
If you're ever losing, losing your way
Just stop and listen to the things that they say
To avoid confrontation
You walk away
Growing up when I need to compromise
When I've had enough twenty years and I realize
Come on now, what's a boy s'posed to do
When I can't seem to leave you alone
Touching me touching you
Wanna be your brother, wanna be your father too
Never make you run for cover even if they want us to
I wanna be your sister, wanna be your mother too
I wanna be wanna be
Whatever else that touches you
I wanna be your brother, wanna be your father too
Never make you run for cover even if they want us to
I wanna be your sister, wanna be your mother too
I wanna be wanna be
Whatever else that touches you
Whatever else that touches you
Whatever else that touches you
Whatever else that touches you
Whatever else that touches you
When you've had enough and you need somebody to know
When you're looking tough but you need a way to let it go
Come on now, what's a boy s'posed to do
But I can't seem to leave you alone
Touching me touching you
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Hehey!
I thought a lot about it and for me it's very clear. There is a whole story in this song ! It is about an openly gay man "I've had enough 20 years" who sings about his love interest who isn't out yet. That LI is not comfortable with his sexuality and therefor he doesn't want to be in an emotional relationship "blow me off as history" I guess, LI thinks that being gay isn't OK "you think you are better" The singer wants to convince him that being queer is wonderful but LI can't "let it go". Still singer can't help himself either by leaving him. He needs to be with him. "When I can't seem to leave you alone". There "touching me touching you" means sexual touching, which tells me that they still are engaged in a sexual relationship. Singer would love to be a member of his family in order to tell him that it was totally OK to love the same sex although he didn't know how they would react "never make you run for cover - even if they want us to". In this case "touches you" means emotionally! Nothing creepy at all!