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.
And It seems as though
I'm on my own
And time transcends, oh!
And it seems I speak
Like waters leak
And I'm losing friends, oh!
And there'll be coins on my eyes
There'll be coins on my eyes
To pay Charon
Before I let you near my son
And I don't feel well
Oh, couldn't you tell,
From the way I touch my face?
My thoughts are low
And I cannot grow
In this small space, oh!
But there'll be coins on my eyes
There'll be coins on my eyes
To pay Charon,
Before I let you near my son
And I ain't no,
And I ain't no,
And I ain't no Hercules
I ain't no Hercules
I'm on my own
And time transcends, oh!
And it seems I speak
Like waters leak
And I'm losing friends, oh!
And there'll be coins on my eyes
There'll be coins on my eyes
To pay Charon
Before I let you near my son
And I don't feel well
Oh, couldn't you tell,
From the way I touch my face?
My thoughts are low
And I cannot grow
In this small space, oh!
But there'll be coins on my eyes
There'll be coins on my eyes
To pay Charon,
Before I let you near my son
And I ain't no,
And I ain't no,
And I ain't no Hercules
I ain't no Hercules
Lyrics submitted by crossofflowers, edited by ladymumford
Charon Lyrics as written by Keaton Leslie Henson
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"Charon, in Greek mythology, is the ferryman of the dead. The souls of the deceased are brought to him by Hermes, and Charon ferries them across the river Acheron. He only accepts the dead which are buried or burned with the proper rites, and if they pay him an obolus (coin) for their passage. For that reason a corpse had always an obolus 1 placed under the tongue."