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.
Unraveling, unrolled, a siren in the night
I love the jaundice of your skin
Its perverse plasticity
You make me want to smoke cigarettes
You make me want to drink whiskey
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
My sycophant love song
My authentic desperation
I'm addicted to the feeling,
The only kind of steady I believe in
Prison cell exercises,
Solitary sport entertainment
What makes you think
You're going to die any different?
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
It still wouldn't save me
It still wouldn't save me
Don't worry young suicides,
The vultures will pick your bones dry
Half digested and eternal,
Somewhere lost in the ephemeral
Welcome to the future
An always ice-cold nightmare
Burnt coffee and Percocets
This night too will end
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
I love the jaundice of your skin
Its perverse plasticity
You make me want to smoke cigarettes
You make me want to drink whiskey
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
My sycophant love song
My authentic desperation
I'm addicted to the feeling,
The only kind of steady I believe in
Prison cell exercises,
Solitary sport entertainment
What makes you think
You're going to die any different?
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
It still wouldn't save me
It still wouldn't save me
Don't worry young suicides,
The vultures will pick your bones dry
Half digested and eternal,
Somewhere lost in the ephemeral
Welcome to the future
An always ice-cold nightmare
Burnt coffee and Percocets
This night too will end
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
Even if your love was unconditional,
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
It still wouldn't be enough to save me
Lyrics submitted by Nonny, edited by skankalite
Unconditional Love Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Laura's said in interviews that this song is about how you can have the best support in the world but if you don't love yourself it means nothing.
And as a trans person like her I can attest to this.