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.
I've been awake for hours
As I watch a sunrise come over nothing
While outside the cars start racing
Searching for something we could never seem to find or afford
Maybe I owe the devil a little something
Just to keep things stable
Because last night I realized I was nothing more
than just a serpent for his plans
Chamberlain's waiting down at the bottom of the city of hell
Or heaven itself
As the whistle she sings
My hands building weapons for kings
While somebody's drinking my last rations of victory gin
I'm sober as sin
As my hands start to shake
I fill with post-modern debates
While Chamberlain's waiting
Build our mistakes to the clouds
Then blame us for dreaming out loud
As I watch a sunrise come over nothing
While outside the cars start racing
Searching for something we could never seem to find or afford
Maybe I owe the devil a little something
Just to keep things stable
Because last night I realized I was nothing more
than just a serpent for his plans
Chamberlain's waiting down at the bottom of the city of hell
Or heaven itself
As the whistle she sings
My hands building weapons for kings
While somebody's drinking my last rations of victory gin
I'm sober as sin
As my hands start to shake
I fill with post-modern debates
While Chamberlain's waiting
Build our mistakes to the clouds
Then blame us for dreaming out loud
Lyrics submitted by julzie
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This band is unreal.