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.
Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
Just wasting time
Trying to prove who’s right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
If its just you and me
Trying to find the light
Like ships in the night letting cannonballs fly
Say what you mean and it turns to a fight
Fists fly from my mouth as it turns south
You’re down the driveway
I’m on the couch
Chasing your dreams since the violent fifth grade
Trying to believe in your silent own way
'Cause we’ll be okay, I’m not going away
Like you watched at fourteen as it went down the drain
Your pops stayed the same and your moms moved away
How many of our parents seem to make it anyway
We’re just fumbling through the gray
Trying to find a heart that’s not walking away
Turn the lights down low
Walk these halls alone
We can feel so far
From so close
Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
Just wasting time
Trying to prove who’s right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
If its just you and me
Trying to find the light
Like ships in the night
You're passing me by
You're passing me by
Like ships in the night
I’m at the airport waitin’ on the second plane
Had to pack, you had cramps,
And I was late heading to a red carpet
They wont know my name
Riding in silence
All that we wanna say
'Bout to board when you call on the phone
You say I’m sorry I’ll be waitin’ at home
Feels like we’re burning this out on our own
Trying to find our way down a road we don’t know
Turn the lights down low
Walk these halls alone
We can feel so far
From so close
Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
Just wasting time
Trying to prove who’s right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
If its just you and me
Trying to find the light
Like ships in the night
You're passing me by
You're passing me by
Like ships in the night
I’m gonna find my way
Back to your side
I’m gonna find my way
Back to your side
Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
Just wasting time
Trying to prove who’s right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
If its just you and me
Trying to find the light
Like ships in the night
You're passing me by
You're passing me by
Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
Just wasting time
Trying to prove who’s right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
If its just you and me
Trying to find the light
Like ships in the night letting cannonballs fly
Say what you mean and it turns to a fight
Fists fly from my mouth as it turns south
You’re down the driveway
I’m on the couch
Chasing your dreams since the violent fifth grade
Trying to believe in your silent own way
'Cause we’ll be okay, I’m not going away
Like you watched at fourteen as it went down the drain
Your pops stayed the same and your moms moved away
How many of our parents seem to make it anyway
We’re just fumbling through the gray
Trying to find a heart that’s not walking away
Turn the lights down low
Walk these halls alone
We can feel so far
From so close
Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
Just wasting time
Trying to prove who’s right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
If its just you and me
Trying to find the light
Like ships in the night
You're passing me by
You're passing me by
Like ships in the night
I’m at the airport waitin’ on the second plane
Had to pack, you had cramps,
And I was late heading to a red carpet
They wont know my name
Riding in silence
All that we wanna say
'Bout to board when you call on the phone
You say I’m sorry I’ll be waitin’ at home
Feels like we’re burning this out on our own
Trying to find our way down a road we don’t know
Turn the lights down low
Walk these halls alone
We can feel so far
From so close
Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
Just wasting time
Trying to prove who’s right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
If its just you and me
Trying to find the light
Like ships in the night
You're passing me by
You're passing me by
Like ships in the night
I’m gonna find my way
Back to your side
I’m gonna find my way
Back to your side
Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
Just wasting time
Trying to prove who’s right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
If its just you and me
Trying to find the light
Like ships in the night
You're passing me by
You're passing me by
Like ships in the night
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Totally dig his voice and vibe in this song.