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.
Hip shoot and make me feel bad
?
Wild eyed kids understand
When you're alone, you're a river not an ocean
When the sun needs a sacrifice
You should be there with the food to offer up
Gotta make it to a paradise
For our own survival, own survival
Set fire to the books that you read
I wanna see you burn it up
Let go of the dreams that you had
Set fire to the books that you read
I wanna see you burn it up
Let go of the dreams that you had
?
?
Wild kids understand
When you're alone, nothing is easy to believe in
When a cause will come to you
It will come when it's you that's callin' up
When it falls it will fall to you
For your own survival, own survival
Set fire to the books that you read
I wanna see you burn it up
Let go of the dreams that you had
Set fire to the books that you read
I wanna see you burn it up
Let go of the dreams that you had
Set fire to the books that you read
Set fire to the books that you read
?
?
If only I could move you
We could make it feel so real
And if I'm killing all my friends
To make another TV show
We know the holy rivers don't end
We gotta let the fire grow
Set fire to the books that you read
I wanna see you burn it up
Let go of the dreams that you had
Oh, oh oh
Set fire to the books that you read
I wanna see you burn it up
Let go of the dreams that you had
Oh, oh oh
Set fire to the books that you read
Set fire to the books that you read
Set fire to the books that you read
?
Wild eyed kids understand
When you're alone, you're a river not an ocean
When the sun needs a sacrifice
You should be there with the food to offer up
Gotta make it to a paradise
For our own survival, own survival
Set fire to the books that you read
I wanna see you burn it up
Let go of the dreams that you had
Set fire to the books that you read
I wanna see you burn it up
Let go of the dreams that you had
?
?
Wild kids understand
When you're alone, nothing is easy to believe in
When a cause will come to you
It will come when it's you that's callin' up
When it falls it will fall to you
For your own survival, own survival
Set fire to the books that you read
I wanna see you burn it up
Let go of the dreams that you had
Set fire to the books that you read
I wanna see you burn it up
Let go of the dreams that you had
Set fire to the books that you read
Set fire to the books that you read
?
?
If only I could move you
We could make it feel so real
And if I'm killing all my friends
To make another TV show
We know the holy rivers don't end
We gotta let the fire grow
Set fire to the books that you read
I wanna see you burn it up
Let go of the dreams that you had
Oh, oh oh
Set fire to the books that you read
I wanna see you burn it up
Let go of the dreams that you had
Oh, oh oh
Set fire to the books that you read
Set fire to the books that you read
Set fire to the books that you read
Lyrics submitted by PeterLewis
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When asked what Books was about, Sam from Swiss Lips said: "It's about smashing everything up and starting again."
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