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.
I’m the man in the iron cage of fear
I’ve been locked in this place for 1000 years
I used to believe like you
I used to be someone who
Showed to others the way, but now I’m lost
No one ever made me who I am
Burned my bridges, sold my house, my car, my friends
I used to believe like you
I used to be someone who
Showed to others the way, but now I’m lost
I took every guardrail down
I never thought I’d be found out
But my secret sin surely had a cost
Surely you can find your way back home
Surely you can turn to God alone
You are never too far gone
His mercy’s new each day
You can still sing freedom’s song
You’re not so far gone
You’re never too far gone
To ever turn again
I’m the man in the iron cage of death
Started with a little slip, now it’s such a mess
I used to believe like you
I used to have dreams like you do
But now I’m a prisoner of my rage
When you think you’re sure to stand
When you’re runnin’ the race I ran
Remember the man in the iron cage
I’ve been locked in this place for 1000 years
I used to believe like you
I used to be someone who
Showed to others the way, but now I’m lost
No one ever made me who I am
Burned my bridges, sold my house, my car, my friends
I used to believe like you
I used to be someone who
Showed to others the way, but now I’m lost
I took every guardrail down
I never thought I’d be found out
But my secret sin surely had a cost
Surely you can find your way back home
Surely you can turn to God alone
You are never too far gone
His mercy’s new each day
You can still sing freedom’s song
You’re not so far gone
You’re never too far gone
To ever turn again
I’m the man in the iron cage of death
Started with a little slip, now it’s such a mess
I used to believe like you
I used to have dreams like you do
But now I’m a prisoner of my rage
When you think you’re sure to stand
When you’re runnin’ the race I ran
Remember the man in the iron cage
Lyrics submitted by Octavarium64
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I'm eager to find out the meaning of this song for Neal. It's mind blowing.