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.
When you're born in the dirt the only way to grow is up
So we reach for the sun but it seems
Every rung that you climb is another crooked line
That you cross off the tally of your dreams
Don't step out of line kid, you learn it pretty fast
Every face has its place in the crowd
They'll give you all the answers, so you don't ask any questions
Then they'll march you with a smile into the ground
And we all go to heaven in a little row boat
So put your hands up, put your hands up
If crawling for the scraps won't ever be enough
Put your hands up, put your hands up
The writing's on the wall, this ain't ever gonna stop
Put your hands up, put your hands up
If crawling for the scraps won't ever be enough
Put your hands up, put your hands up
We'll fight until we die, this ain't ever gonna stop
This stray dog world, this sick sad place
Got a belly full of maggots and disease
Every apple here is rotten, every blessing is a curse
Every word is a lie you best believe
We take one step forward, then two steps back
In a race to the bottom of the barrel
They teach us how to fear
They teach us how to hate
Then they arm us and they march us off to hell
And it's left, left, left right left
So put your hands up, put your hands up
If crawling for the scraps won't ever be enough
Put your hands up, put your hands up
The writing's on the wall, this ain't ever gonna stop
Put your hands up, put your hands up
If crawling for the scraps won't ever be enough
Put your hands up, put your hands up
We'll fight until we die, this ain't ever gonna stop
This ain't ever gonna stop
Because they came for our minds
We said nothing
They came for our hopes
We said nothing
They came for our souls
And still we said nothing
Now they're coming for our lives
So what's it gonna take
So what's it gonna take
What's it gonna take
What's it gonna take
See how they run, see how they run
So put your hands up, put your hands up
If clawing for the scraps won't ever be enough
Put your hands up, put your hands up
The writing's on the wall, this ain't ever gonna stop
Put your hands up, put your hands up
If clawing for the scraps won't ever be enough
Put your hands up, put your hands up
We'll fight until we die, this ain't ever gonna stop
So we reach for the sun but it seems
Every rung that you climb is another crooked line
That you cross off the tally of your dreams
Don't step out of line kid, you learn it pretty fast
Every face has its place in the crowd
They'll give you all the answers, so you don't ask any questions
Then they'll march you with a smile into the ground
And we all go to heaven in a little row boat
So put your hands up, put your hands up
If crawling for the scraps won't ever be enough
Put your hands up, put your hands up
The writing's on the wall, this ain't ever gonna stop
Put your hands up, put your hands up
If crawling for the scraps won't ever be enough
Put your hands up, put your hands up
We'll fight until we die, this ain't ever gonna stop
This stray dog world, this sick sad place
Got a belly full of maggots and disease
Every apple here is rotten, every blessing is a curse
Every word is a lie you best believe
We take one step forward, then two steps back
In a race to the bottom of the barrel
They teach us how to fear
They teach us how to hate
Then they arm us and they march us off to hell
And it's left, left, left right left
So put your hands up, put your hands up
If crawling for the scraps won't ever be enough
Put your hands up, put your hands up
The writing's on the wall, this ain't ever gonna stop
Put your hands up, put your hands up
If crawling for the scraps won't ever be enough
Put your hands up, put your hands up
We'll fight until we die, this ain't ever gonna stop
This ain't ever gonna stop
Because they came for our minds
We said nothing
They came for our hopes
We said nothing
They came for our souls
And still we said nothing
Now they're coming for our lives
So what's it gonna take
So what's it gonna take
What's it gonna take
What's it gonna take
See how they run, see how they run
So put your hands up, put your hands up
If clawing for the scraps won't ever be enough
Put your hands up, put your hands up
The writing's on the wall, this ain't ever gonna stop
Put your hands up, put your hands up
If clawing for the scraps won't ever be enough
Put your hands up, put your hands up
We'll fight until we die, this ain't ever gonna stop
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Follows along the theme of many on the Ire album about standing up and fighting for your rights (freedom). That is not letting others rule your life but instead breaking free of the apathy and being free.
"better to die on your feet than live on your knees"