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.
Ha oh
I was looking for a breath of life
A little touch of heavenly light
But all the choirs in my head sang no
To get a dream of life again
A little vision of the start and the end
But all the choirs in my head sang no
But I only needed one more touch
Another taste of heavenly rush
And I believe, I believe it so
And I only needed one more touch
Another taste of divine rush
And I believe, I believe it so
Whose side am I on, whose side am I?
Whose side am I on, whose side am I?
And the fever began to spread
From my heart down to my legs
But the room was so quiet oh
And although I wasn't losing my mind
It was a chorus so sublime
But the room is too quiet (oh, the fever)
I was looking for a breath of life,
A little touch of heavenly light
But all the choirs in my head sang no (I believe it)
To get a dream of life again
A little vision of the start and the end
But all the choirs in my head sang no
Ha oh
Ha oh
It's a harder way
And it's come to claim her
And I always say
We should be together
And I can't sleep alone
'Cause there's something in here
And if you are gone
I will not belong here
And I started to hear it again
But this time it wasn't the end
And the room was so quiet, oh
And my heart is a hollow plain
For the devil to dance again
And the room was too quiet, oh
I was looking for a breath of life
A little touch of heavenly light
But all the choirs in my head sang no
I was looking for a breath of life
A little touch of heavenly light
But all the choirs in my head sang no
To get a dream of life again
A little vision of the start and the end
But all the choirs in my head sang no
But I only needed one more touch
Another taste of heavenly rush
And I believe, I believe it so
And I only needed one more touch
Another taste of divine rush
And I believe, I believe it so
Whose side am I on, whose side am I?
Whose side am I on, whose side am I?
And the fever began to spread
From my heart down to my legs
But the room was so quiet oh
And although I wasn't losing my mind
It was a chorus so sublime
But the room is too quiet (oh, the fever)
I was looking for a breath of life,
A little touch of heavenly light
But all the choirs in my head sang no (I believe it)
To get a dream of life again
A little vision of the start and the end
But all the choirs in my head sang no
Ha oh
Ha oh
It's a harder way
And it's come to claim her
And I always say
We should be together
And I can't sleep alone
'Cause there's something in here
And if you are gone
I will not belong here
And I started to hear it again
But this time it wasn't the end
And the room was so quiet, oh
And my heart is a hollow plain
For the devil to dance again
And the room was too quiet, oh
I was looking for a breath of life
A little touch of heavenly light
But all the choirs in my head sang no
Lyrics submitted by Elective Amnesia, edited by loyamichelle66
Breath Of Life Lyrics as written by Isabella Janet Florentina Summers Florence Leontine Mary Welch
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
im pretty sure she is singing about her getting so close to god but then, the voices start talking to her changing her mind although she knows god exists, she starts to think that she is going crazy and questions which side she is on, good or evil and in the end her heart is not filled with light or darkness its empty waiting for someone to fill it, either God or the Devil.
still amazing song and lyrics im new to Florence and she is number one in my libary right now <3