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-ha-haunted
The throat is deep and the mouth is wide
Saw some things on the other side
Made me promise to never tell
But you know me, I can't help myself
Now I've got something you have to see
They put something inside of me
The smile is red and its eyes are black
I don't think I'll be coming back
I don't believe it
I had to see it
I came back haunted
I came back haunted
I said goodbye but I
I had to try
I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
Everywhere now reminding me
I am not who I used to be
I'm afraid this has just begun
Consequences for what I've done, yeah
I don't believe it
I had to see it
I came back, I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
I said goodbye but I
I had to try
I came back, I came back haunted
I C-C-C-came back haunted
I don't believe it
I had to see it
I came back, I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
I said goodbye but I
I had to try
I came back, I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
They tried to tell me but I
I couldn't stop myself and I
I came back, I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
The throat is deep and the mouth is wide
Saw some things on the other side
Made me promise to never tell
But you know me, I can't help myself
Now I've got something you have to see
They put something inside of me
The smile is red and its eyes are black
I don't think I'll be coming back
I don't believe it
I had to see it
I came back haunted
I came back haunted
I said goodbye but I
I had to try
I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
Everywhere now reminding me
I am not who I used to be
I'm afraid this has just begun
Consequences for what I've done, yeah
I don't believe it
I had to see it
I came back, I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
I said goodbye but I
I had to try
I came back, I came back haunted
I C-C-C-came back haunted
I don't believe it
I had to see it
I came back, I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
I said goodbye but I
I had to try
I came back, I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
They tried to tell me but I
I couldn't stop myself and I
I came back, I came back haunted
C-C-C-came back haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Came back ha-ha-haunted
Just can't
Stop
Lyrics submitted by fosterjc, edited by Mellow_Harsher, wetmatches, BugGirl, mike
Came Back Haunted Lyrics as written by Trent Reznor
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Music video: youtube.com/watch