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.
Desolation angels in a junkyard of lies
Secret thinkers, spitting in their eyes
Don't lock frustrations deep inside
Shout out the truth they like to hide
Tryin' to get across
but it's hard to make sense
Robbed of something
and we've got no defense
If they took away your weekend
you'd feel the pain alright
I bet you'd stand up and fight
Sometimes you just don't know who your enemies are
You gotta understand we're on the same side
Oh no you just don't know who your enemies are
'Cause when the heat is on
they run and hide and let us fight it out alone
Don't wanna be a martyr to anybody's cause
Just wanna break free from the savage jaw
I don't want to change the world, just my own
But sometimes I feel so alone
Sometimes you just don't know who your enemies are
You gotta understand we're on the same side
Oh no you just don't know who your enemies are
'Cause when the heat is on
they run and hide and let us fight it out alone
Enemies!
Send the guitar!
Enemies!
Send the guitar!
Enemies!
Just a number on the run!
Enemies!
This guitar is a gun!
Enemies!
Secret thinkers!
Enemies!
Spitting in their eyes!
Enemies!
Shouting out the truth!
En-em-ies!
Gotta break free!
Secret thinkers, spitting in their eyes
Don't lock frustrations deep inside
Shout out the truth they like to hide
Tryin' to get across
but it's hard to make sense
Robbed of something
and we've got no defense
If they took away your weekend
you'd feel the pain alright
I bet you'd stand up and fight
Sometimes you just don't know who your enemies are
You gotta understand we're on the same side
Oh no you just don't know who your enemies are
'Cause when the heat is on
they run and hide and let us fight it out alone
Don't wanna be a martyr to anybody's cause
Just wanna break free from the savage jaw
I don't want to change the world, just my own
But sometimes I feel so alone
Sometimes you just don't know who your enemies are
You gotta understand we're on the same side
Oh no you just don't know who your enemies are
'Cause when the heat is on
they run and hide and let us fight it out alone
Enemies!
Send the guitar!
Enemies!
Send the guitar!
Enemies!
Just a number on the run!
Enemies!
This guitar is a gun!
Enemies!
Secret thinkers!
Enemies!
Spitting in their eyes!
Enemies!
Shouting out the truth!
En-em-ies!
Gotta break free!
Lyrics submitted by epiwoosh
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This song is about people who say they are your friends but when you need them they are not there
@JK2OJacko Not at all. It's actually basically an anti-war song talking about how people shouldn't be fighting each other when the real enemy is the corrupt system and the rich and powerful who benefit from it by taking advantage of everyone else. The only way they got away with a song like this is by adding the line "don't want to change the world, just my own" which is really code for "want to change the world, not just my own."