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.
Face stained in the ceiling
Why does it keep saying,
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
Digging like you can bury
Something that cannot die
We could wash the dirt off our hands now
Keep it from living underground
Lazy summer goddess
You can tell our whole empire
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
Why does it keep saying,
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
Digging like you can bury
Something that cannot die
We could wash the dirt off our hands now
Keep it from living underground
Lazy summer goddess
You can tell our whole empire
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
I don't have to see you right now
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by SephA
Mt. Washington Lyrics as written by Matthew James Frazier Kelcey Paul Ayer
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Holy fuck this song is beautiful. I think this song is both loving and sweet and cold and sad at the same time.... To me, it's about a lover that he still loves, but he doesn't need in his life right now. You can read it as being a very sad song, that he doesn't NEED to see this person, but the "right now" is genius.....implying that he will want to or HAVE to see this person some time in the future.
But that's just like...my interpretation, man.
A sadder interpretation of the song....It's someone who normally has to see that he really doesn't like to see....maybe a family member, a parent, that he really clashes with, and he is relieved that he doesn't have to see them.
But i see it much more as a person that he is in a long-distance relationship with. He loves this person, but that person is not the only person in his life. Maybe a lover back home that he's left while he's on tour.