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.
Is there nothing left to keep myself awake?
To keep the walls from caving in
When all they ever do is try to bend and break
Is there forgiveness in the end?
I need relief (A failure’s coming on)
Just breathe in deep (It’s taking far too long)
I had you in my grip but you're starting to slip
Bring out the worst in me
And now it's come to end, I think I'm giving in
You set my demons free
It seems no matter where I look it’s always gone
With you I know I’ll never win
And it’s hard to say where it went so wrong
And failed me in the end
I need relief (A failure’s coming on)
Just breathe in deep (It’s taking far too long)
I need relief (This weakness carries on)
Please be a dream (Or was it all along?)
I had you in my grip but you're starting to slip
Bring out the worst in me
And now it's come to end, I think I'm giving in
You set my demons free
It's better when you're with me but that's better left unsaid
It's better when I'm empty but I still let you in
It's better when you're with me but that's better left unsaid
It's better when I'm empty but I still let you in
I had you in my grip but you're starting to slip
Bring out the worst in me
And now it's come to end, I think I'm giving in
You set my demons free
I had you in my grip but you're starting to slip
Bring out the worst in me
Please won't you stay for me
Don't ever let me be
You set my demons free
To keep the walls from caving in
When all they ever do is try to bend and break
Is there forgiveness in the end?
I need relief (A failure’s coming on)
Just breathe in deep (It’s taking far too long)
I had you in my grip but you're starting to slip
Bring out the worst in me
And now it's come to end, I think I'm giving in
You set my demons free
It seems no matter where I look it’s always gone
With you I know I’ll never win
And it’s hard to say where it went so wrong
And failed me in the end
I need relief (A failure’s coming on)
Just breathe in deep (It’s taking far too long)
I need relief (This weakness carries on)
Please be a dream (Or was it all along?)
I had you in my grip but you're starting to slip
Bring out the worst in me
And now it's come to end, I think I'm giving in
You set my demons free
It's better when you're with me but that's better left unsaid
It's better when I'm empty but I still let you in
It's better when you're with me but that's better left unsaid
It's better when I'm empty but I still let you in
I had you in my grip but you're starting to slip
Bring out the worst in me
And now it's come to end, I think I'm giving in
You set my demons free
I had you in my grip but you're starting to slip
Bring out the worst in me
Please won't you stay for me
Don't ever let me be
You set my demons free
Lyrics submitted by AdamArtz
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