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.
They're building the gallows outside my cell,
I got twenty-five minutes to go.
The whole town's waiting to hear me yell,
I got twenty-four minutes to go.
Well, I tried the governor and the whole damn bunch,
I got twenty-three minutes to go.
And I tried the mayor, but the mayor's out to lunch,
I got twenty-two minutes to go.
They've given me beans for my last meal,
I got twenty-one minutes to go.
Nobody's asked me how I feel,
I got twenty minutes to go.
Well, the sheriff said he's gonna watch me die,
I got nineteen minutes to go.
Well, I spit in his face, and I spit in his eye,
I got eighteen minutes... to go.
Well, the preacher's come to save my soul,
I got thirteen minutes to go.
Well, he's talking about burning but I feel cold,
I got twelve minutes to go.
Well, they're testing the trap, it chills my spine,
I got eleven minutes to go.
Well, the trap and the rope are both working fine,
I got ten minutes to go.
I'm waiting for the pardon that will set me free,
I got nine minutes to go.
But nobody's remembered me,
I got eight more minutes to go.
Well, I've seen the mountains and the sky,
I got five minutes to go.
And they're so pretty, I don't wanna die,
I got four more minutes to go.
Well, my feet are in the trap, my neck is in the noose,
I got three minutes to go.
Oh, will somebody please cut me loose,
I got two more minutes to go.
Well, I heard the buzzards, I've seen the crows,
I got one minute to go.
And now I'm swinging, and here I go,
I go, I go, I gchchchchcaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww...........
I got twenty-five minutes to go.
The whole town's waiting to hear me yell,
I got twenty-four minutes to go.
Well, I tried the governor and the whole damn bunch,
I got twenty-three minutes to go.
And I tried the mayor, but the mayor's out to lunch,
I got twenty-two minutes to go.
They've given me beans for my last meal,
I got twenty-one minutes to go.
Nobody's asked me how I feel,
I got twenty minutes to go.
Well, the sheriff said he's gonna watch me die,
I got nineteen minutes to go.
Well, I spit in his face, and I spit in his eye,
I got eighteen minutes... to go.
Well, the preacher's come to save my soul,
I got thirteen minutes to go.
Well, he's talking about burning but I feel cold,
I got twelve minutes to go.
Well, they're testing the trap, it chills my spine,
I got eleven minutes to go.
Well, the trap and the rope are both working fine,
I got ten minutes to go.
I'm waiting for the pardon that will set me free,
I got nine minutes to go.
But nobody's remembered me,
I got eight more minutes to go.
Well, I've seen the mountains and the sky,
I got five minutes to go.
And they're so pretty, I don't wanna die,
I got four more minutes to go.
Well, my feet are in the trap, my neck is in the noose,
I got three minutes to go.
Oh, will somebody please cut me loose,
I got two more minutes to go.
Well, I heard the buzzards, I've seen the crows,
I got one minute to go.
And now I'm swinging, and here I go,
I go, I go, I gchchchchcaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww...........
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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Totally HATE this song!