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.
As I follow you, where will you lead me
To the ends of the world
Or is that just the beginning
I've rolled through villages
And done my best to pass on your name
How much is too much
How far is too far
As I push on and leave everything behind
The front line swears I'm going into battle blind
A life dedicated to what I can't see
Still grasping what I was told to believe
What kind of cruel truth only presents itself
In the moment you die
In the moment you die
The facts are becoming less and less transparent
Constantly mixed with the thoughts of the incoherent
Dig deep, they're hidden beneath centuries of dust and dirt
Covered up by the evolution of the earth
I'm struggling with the blessing of the unseen
It's harder and harder to not be accusing
Continuing to draw the lines of acceptance
I'm trying and trying to translate the evidence
Why do we owe anyone repentance, repentance
While seeking answers to these questions, these questions
Why do we owe anyone repentance, repentance
While seeking answers to these questions, questions
We don't owe, we don't owe
We don't owe, we don't owe
Anyone repentance
We don't owe, we don't owe, repentance
As I follow you, where will you lead me
To the ends of the world, or is that just the beginning
The only time you'll ever know if you chose the right side
Is when you close your eyes for the very last time
Question, all that you knew
Question, It's how you'll find the truth
Question, question
It will only make you stronger
Question, all that you knew
Question, It's how you'll find the truth
Question, question
It will only make you stronger
To the ends of the world
Or is that just the beginning
I've rolled through villages
And done my best to pass on your name
How much is too much
How far is too far
As I push on and leave everything behind
The front line swears I'm going into battle blind
A life dedicated to what I can't see
Still grasping what I was told to believe
What kind of cruel truth only presents itself
In the moment you die
In the moment you die
The facts are becoming less and less transparent
Constantly mixed with the thoughts of the incoherent
Dig deep, they're hidden beneath centuries of dust and dirt
Covered up by the evolution of the earth
I'm struggling with the blessing of the unseen
It's harder and harder to not be accusing
Continuing to draw the lines of acceptance
I'm trying and trying to translate the evidence
Why do we owe anyone repentance, repentance
While seeking answers to these questions, these questions
Why do we owe anyone repentance, repentance
While seeking answers to these questions, questions
We don't owe, we don't owe
We don't owe, we don't owe
Anyone repentance
We don't owe, we don't owe, repentance
As I follow you, where will you lead me
To the ends of the world, or is that just the beginning
The only time you'll ever know if you chose the right side
Is when you close your eyes for the very last time
Question, all that you knew
Question, It's how you'll find the truth
Question, question
It will only make you stronger
Question, all that you knew
Question, It's how you'll find the truth
Question, question
It will only make you stronger
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This is quite an open ended song about religion. It is telling us to ask those questions, not to be afraid, not to be "blind to our faith". Quite a refreshing look at religion from a band that typically has very strong Christian doctrines included in their lyrics.
Ironically this song is quite hypocritical of their "Marathon" song, which pretty much has the band singing about spending their life trying to find God.
I do like the lines:
"What kind of cruel truth only presents itself In the moment you die?"
Does really make you wonder ... billions spend their whole life in preparation of the afterlife (with no certainties). Personally I would hope the gods would be more worried about you living a full and happy life than being so worried about the afterlife and worshiping them.
@sokorny "The only time you'll ever know if you chose the right side<br /> Is when you close your eyes for the very last time<br /> Question, all that you knew<br /> Question, It's how you'll find the truth<br /> Question, question<br /> It will only make you stronger<br /> Question, all that you knew<br /> Question, It's how you'll find the truth<br /> Question, question<br /> It will only make you stronger"<br /> <br /> you got one part of the song correct but the above quote is the main part. The song is full of doubt in your faith but in the end it says that it is ok to doubt because thatll only make your faith stronger.