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.
There is a crowd in here, that fooled themselves
They brought their friends, and they made their hell
They fake their grin, in a lonely cell
To bitter end, but what do I know?
There are a few in here, that hurt themselves
They kick, and beg, in a dried-up well
They call for help, and you know them well
Are you aware of what I know?
I, I will not surrender
No I, I will not surrender
No I, I will not surrender
No I, I will not surrender
When God falls fast asleep
The kids still dance in city streets
From the White House lawn to the Middle East
And all around I'm just saying that this time I feel it now
When God falls fast asleep
The kids still move to a steady beat
Even if its bombs landing at their feet
Or all around I'm just saying that this time I feel it now
There is a place to hide
It's in our minds
It's in the dark
It's well known
That we have a fragile heart
It's deep inside
It has a sound that you can follow
You feel like you hit a wall
But you survived
And it was hard for you to swallow
I've been to that place before
In spite of luck
When you await a new tomorrow
I, I will not surrender
No I, I will not surrender
No I, I will not surrender
No I, I will not surrender
When God falls fast asleep
The kids still dance in city streets
From the White House lawn to the Middle East
And all around I'm just saying that this time I feel it now
When God falls fast asleep
The kids still move to a steady beat
Even if its bombs landing at their feet
Or all around I'm just saying that this time I feel it now
When God falls fast asleep
The kids still dance in city streets
From the White House lawn to the Middle East
And all around I'm just saying that this time I feel it now
When God falls fast asleep
The kids still move to a steady beat
Even if its bombs landing at their feet
Or all around I'm just saying that this time I feel it now
I feel it now
This time I feel it now
I feel it now
This time I feel it now
Oh oh oh oh oh
Yea ah oh oh oh oh oh
Yea ah oh oh oh oh oh
Yea ah oh oh oh oh oh (this time I feel it now)
They brought their friends, and they made their hell
They fake their grin, in a lonely cell
To bitter end, but what do I know?
There are a few in here, that hurt themselves
They kick, and beg, in a dried-up well
They call for help, and you know them well
Are you aware of what I know?
I, I will not surrender
No I, I will not surrender
No I, I will not surrender
No I, I will not surrender
When God falls fast asleep
The kids still dance in city streets
From the White House lawn to the Middle East
And all around I'm just saying that this time I feel it now
When God falls fast asleep
The kids still move to a steady beat
Even if its bombs landing at their feet
Or all around I'm just saying that this time I feel it now
There is a place to hide
It's in our minds
It's in the dark
It's well known
That we have a fragile heart
It's deep inside
It has a sound that you can follow
You feel like you hit a wall
But you survived
And it was hard for you to swallow
I've been to that place before
In spite of luck
When you await a new tomorrow
I, I will not surrender
No I, I will not surrender
No I, I will not surrender
No I, I will not surrender
When God falls fast asleep
The kids still dance in city streets
From the White House lawn to the Middle East
And all around I'm just saying that this time I feel it now
When God falls fast asleep
The kids still move to a steady beat
Even if its bombs landing at their feet
Or all around I'm just saying that this time I feel it now
When God falls fast asleep
The kids still dance in city streets
From the White House lawn to the Middle East
And all around I'm just saying that this time I feel it now
When God falls fast asleep
The kids still move to a steady beat
Even if its bombs landing at their feet
Or all around I'm just saying that this time I feel it now
I feel it now
This time I feel it now
I feel it now
This time I feel it now
Oh oh oh oh oh
Yea ah oh oh oh oh oh
Yea ah oh oh oh oh oh
Yea ah oh oh oh oh oh (this time I feel it now)
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