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.
No this is not my guitar
I'm bringing it to a friend
And no I don't sing
I'm only humming along
Up here in the air
I'm just mumbling at the clouds
Wanting to be known
While I pass the lonely hours
I came down from the room
I saw you in the rain
Laughing with some people
Hair dripping down your face
Your calm hypnotic eyes
Your Scandinavian glow
I felt them like a flame
Candle in my cold bones
Tonight you were my muse
As I belted and I strummed
Trying not to drown
In the helicopter drone
Alesund
From the crowd I heard
You sing a pretty line
Was it there so much longer
That I wanna cry
I thought about it long
Had you repeated in my ear
"I couldn't place a thought
without you being so close"
Alesund
Should've played it then
From the intro to the end
When they offered me the stage
At the bar we landed in
But I turned and walked
Away from all the fun
And back into the black
Seaside night of Alesund
Alesund
I'm bringing it to a friend
And no I don't sing
I'm only humming along
Up here in the air
I'm just mumbling at the clouds
Wanting to be known
While I pass the lonely hours
I came down from the room
I saw you in the rain
Laughing with some people
Hair dripping down your face
Your calm hypnotic eyes
Your Scandinavian glow
I felt them like a flame
Candle in my cold bones
Tonight you were my muse
As I belted and I strummed
Trying not to drown
In the helicopter drone
Alesund
From the crowd I heard
You sing a pretty line
Was it there so much longer
That I wanna cry
I thought about it long
Had you repeated in my ear
"I couldn't place a thought
without you being so close"
Alesund
Should've played it then
From the intro to the end
When they offered me the stage
At the bar we landed in
But I turned and walked
Away from all the fun
And back into the black
Seaside night of Alesund
Alesund
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I always sing "I couldn't place it though, but loved you being so close.
My favorite part of the song. Remembering the feeling of someone you love being close, or hoping for the feeling in the future--what better reason to keep going?