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.
Woke up but you're back in my bed,
We broke up, how this happened again?
I always end up letting you in
When I start drinking, not thinking.
I should have listened to all of my friends,
Same road and the same dead end,
I’m loving while she pretends,
So I keep drinking, not thinking.
First love is hard enough
Even worse to give it up,
I can’t forget her when she’s gone
But she can’t leave when I’m holding on.
So what can I say?
I made a mistake,
This time you’ll never change,
You’re nothing but trouble and I should have known better.
It’s always the same,
I’ll take the blame
This time I’ll never change,
You’re nothing but trouble and I should have known better.
Girl, I should have known better.
Every time that I start to forget
I drive at the spot where we first met,
You had nothing on underneath that dress,
We were just drinking, not thinking.
Just two kids, it was way too soon,
Didn’t realize what we had to lose,
No way to know we wouldn’t make it through,
Didn’t know we’ll end up seeking.
First love is hard enough
Even worse to give it up,
I can’t forget her when she’s gone
But she can’t leave when I’m holding on.
So what can I say?
I made a mistake,
This time you’ll never change,
You’re nothing but trouble and I should have known better.
It’s always the same,
I’ll take the blame
This time I’ll never change,
You’re nothing but trouble and I should have known better.
Keep leaving me with nothing,
Someday I’ll live my life
Right now I’m losing this fight.
Lust ain’t the same as trusting
Can’t figure out this loving,
Guess it ain’t happening tonight.
So what can I say?
I made a mistake,
This time you’ll never change,
You’re nothing but trouble and I should have known better.
It’s always the same,
I’ll take the blame
This time I’ll never change,
You’re nothing but trouble and I should have known better.
Girl, I should have known better.
I should have known better.
We broke up, how this happened again?
I always end up letting you in
When I start drinking, not thinking.
I should have listened to all of my friends,
Same road and the same dead end,
I’m loving while she pretends,
So I keep drinking, not thinking.
First love is hard enough
Even worse to give it up,
I can’t forget her when she’s gone
But she can’t leave when I’m holding on.
So what can I say?
I made a mistake,
This time you’ll never change,
You’re nothing but trouble and I should have known better.
It’s always the same,
I’ll take the blame
This time I’ll never change,
You’re nothing but trouble and I should have known better.
Girl, I should have known better.
Every time that I start to forget
I drive at the spot where we first met,
You had nothing on underneath that dress,
We were just drinking, not thinking.
Just two kids, it was way too soon,
Didn’t realize what we had to lose,
No way to know we wouldn’t make it through,
Didn’t know we’ll end up seeking.
First love is hard enough
Even worse to give it up,
I can’t forget her when she’s gone
But she can’t leave when I’m holding on.
So what can I say?
I made a mistake,
This time you’ll never change,
You’re nothing but trouble and I should have known better.
It’s always the same,
I’ll take the blame
This time I’ll never change,
You’re nothing but trouble and I should have known better.
Keep leaving me with nothing,
Someday I’ll live my life
Right now I’m losing this fight.
Lust ain’t the same as trusting
Can’t figure out this loving,
Guess it ain’t happening tonight.
So what can I say?
I made a mistake,
This time you’ll never change,
You’re nothing but trouble and I should have known better.
It’s always the same,
I’ll take the blame
This time I’ll never change,
You’re nothing but trouble and I should have known better.
Girl, I should have known better.
I should have known better.
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