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.
Don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
Gather up the lost and sold (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
Gather up the pitiful (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
What seems impossible (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
I think I have had my fill (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
I think I should give up the ghost (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
Don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
Gather up the lost and sold (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
Gather up the pitiful (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
What seems impossible (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
I think I have had my fill (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
I think I should give up the ghost (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
In your arms (don't hurt me)
Lyrics submitted by maggotbrain, edited by urwellkeen
Give Up the Ghost Lyrics as written by Edward John O'brien Colin Charles Greenwood
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Idk, everything people have said previously is as valid as what I have to say. But having lost someone I dearly loved, much too soon at the age of 23, I have a different kind of relationship to this song. My close friend was taken from me, and I don't want him to "haunt me" or "hurt me" anymore with the memory of his untimely and violent end, and perhaps I even want to "give up [his] ghost" so that I can be at peace, but letting go is never, ever that simple. I look at this song as a struggle between wanting to be happy and to move on, but also lacking the ability to do so.