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 breathing just to pass the time.
I forgot to eat tonight.
Just running down the clock today,
With hope the ache will go away.
Body starts to shake,
Head begins to spin,
Leaves me in its wake,
I’m paralyzed with pain.
We suffer in a heartmachine.
Unstable, feeling everything.
Pins and needles stitching up my skin,
We suffer...
Hope is strange, sometimes it leads you on.
There’s no exception when you’re halfway gone.
A second chance flash of light that brought me to my knees,
A burning vision etched in memories.
Body starts to shake,
Head begins to spin,
Leaves me in its wake,
I’m paralyzed with pain.
We suffer in a heartmachine.
Unstable, feeling everything.
Pins and needles stitching up my skin,
We suffer, trapped in a heartmachine.
Time heals the wounds, it builds up strength inside.
Facing the truth, there’s nothing left to hide.
We suffer...
Unstable...
Pins and needles...
We suffer, trapped in a heartmachine.
I forgot to eat tonight.
Just running down the clock today,
With hope the ache will go away.
Body starts to shake,
Head begins to spin,
Leaves me in its wake,
I’m paralyzed with pain.
We suffer in a heartmachine.
Unstable, feeling everything.
Pins and needles stitching up my skin,
We suffer...
Hope is strange, sometimes it leads you on.
There’s no exception when you’re halfway gone.
A second chance flash of light that brought me to my knees,
A burning vision etched in memories.
Body starts to shake,
Head begins to spin,
Leaves me in its wake,
I’m paralyzed with pain.
We suffer in a heartmachine.
Unstable, feeling everything.
Pins and needles stitching up my skin,
We suffer, trapped in a heartmachine.
Time heals the wounds, it builds up strength inside.
Facing the truth, there’s nothing left to hide.
We suffer...
Unstable...
Pins and needles...
We suffer, trapped in a heartmachine.
Lyrics submitted by AdamArtz
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I think this is about drug abuse & how traumatic & painful it is when the person is trying to go sober (withdrawal/detox). I had a friend who went through this & it's brutal. The sheer strain it puts on one's heart and mind as a result of drug abuse is ruthless.