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.
Maid, truly I see now it must be a long way down
And with love's bud shorn
Now must all dalliance hither crumble and wither
Oh strange, methought it strange
Thou couldst deprive me of my crown
And my freedom that thou cast upon me as
Litter bears fruit of bitter strain
And I would go forsooth to the dragon's tooth
If thus a chance were gained
To resurrect that part of your wanton heart
To whose grave my own is chained
And hold, ere thou dost go
Were not thy moments gilded too
And in honesty didst thou not measure for measure
Countenance pleasure
Cold were't thou so cold
This in thy mind be frozen too
And will not Spring be reborn
But might the sun thaw the frost here
That all be not lost herein
And I would rather, zounds
It were hell's own hounds
Whose foul breath upon my face
Did portent my doom, than to bear the gloom
Of a world stripped of thy grace
And so in truth I know
Yes it will be a long way down
And if go thou must, ere we should meet accidental
Prithee be gentle
And though distant now
Perchance the hand of time may soothe
And though lost at six, if I should live to be seven
I might forget Stephanie
And with love's bud shorn
Now must all dalliance hither crumble and wither
Oh strange, methought it strange
Thou couldst deprive me of my crown
And my freedom that thou cast upon me as
Litter bears fruit of bitter strain
And I would go forsooth to the dragon's tooth
If thus a chance were gained
To resurrect that part of your wanton heart
To whose grave my own is chained
And hold, ere thou dost go
Were not thy moments gilded too
And in honesty didst thou not measure for measure
Countenance pleasure
Cold were't thou so cold
This in thy mind be frozen too
And will not Spring be reborn
But might the sun thaw the frost here
That all be not lost herein
And I would rather, zounds
It were hell's own hounds
Whose foul breath upon my face
Did portent my doom, than to bear the gloom
Of a world stripped of thy grace
And so in truth I know
Yes it will be a long way down
And if go thou must, ere we should meet accidental
Prithee be gentle
And though distant now
Perchance the hand of time may soothe
And though lost at six, if I should live to be seven
I might forget Stephanie
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
A Long Way Down from Stephanie Lyrics as written by Alistair Ian Stewart
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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We find out in Love Chronicles that Stephanie was a girl Al loved in grade school. Nobody knows where she is today, or even if she's alive. The singer here is reminiscing about his first love.