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.
These martyrs seek no adoration
No promises of God's salvation!
They kicked the ladder from beneath their feet
They hung the heroes, they hung the heroes.
(Oh!)
You've got to watch your back
You've got to swallow fear
Cover your tracks, or you might disappear
They found the words to speak unspeakable things
They struck the air from the chests of kings
These martyrs seek no adoration,
No promises of God's salvation!
They kicked the ladder from beneath their feet.
They hung the heroes, they hung the heroes.
If you were caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
Would you run and hide? Or stand for what you believe?
Maybe Orwell was right all along
They think this spells the end, it's only just begun!
These martyrs seek no adoration,
No promises of God's salvation!
They kicked the ladder from beneath their feet.
They hung the heroes, they hung the heroes.
If you find your feet, you can eclipse the sun
Swear that you won't forget, swear that you won't forget!
[x2]
Tell the rats to get back in the gutter.
We'll be watching, we're always watching!
You try to stamp them out,
You'll only fan the flames!
This is for all the snakes: Fuck! You!
So hold your forked tongues,
You've got us spitting nails!
I'm gonna say it straight: Fuck! You!
If you find your feet, you can eclipse the sun
Swear that you won't forget, swear that you won't forget!
If you find your feet, you can eclipse the sun!
They think this spells the end, it's only just begun!
No promises of God's salvation!
They kicked the ladder from beneath their feet
They hung the heroes, they hung the heroes.
(Oh!)
You've got to watch your back
You've got to swallow fear
Cover your tracks, or you might disappear
They found the words to speak unspeakable things
They struck the air from the chests of kings
These martyrs seek no adoration,
No promises of God's salvation!
They kicked the ladder from beneath their feet.
They hung the heroes, they hung the heroes.
If you were caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
Would you run and hide? Or stand for what you believe?
Maybe Orwell was right all along
They think this spells the end, it's only just begun!
These martyrs seek no adoration,
No promises of God's salvation!
They kicked the ladder from beneath their feet.
They hung the heroes, they hung the heroes.
If you find your feet, you can eclipse the sun
Swear that you won't forget, swear that you won't forget!
[x2]
Tell the rats to get back in the gutter.
We'll be watching, we're always watching!
You try to stamp them out,
You'll only fan the flames!
This is for all the snakes: Fuck! You!
So hold your forked tongues,
You've got us spitting nails!
I'm gonna say it straight: Fuck! You!
If you find your feet, you can eclipse the sun
Swear that you won't forget, swear that you won't forget!
If you find your feet, you can eclipse the sun!
They think this spells the end, it's only just begun!
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The band on the song's meaning:
“It’s about the ongoing persecution of whistleblowers, people who are heroes in the eyes of the public. Do you think people are really angry with people revealing government secrets and telling the public that we’re being spied on? No, they’re heroes. When Edward Snowden brought it to a wider audience, he was rightly viewed as a hero, but he’s being persecuted for it.”