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.
Fed by hand and caught with force
Our bed, sweet death will foreclose on everybody's tongues
She'll freeze and break your heart
My love who's left to console the choir
I don't want to be the one
I don't want to be the anchor on your chest
Unkept
Have you ever been asleep
I was only keeping up to see you weep
Unfold
Inside the catacomb
The marble's colder than ice
Our match is damp
Lit with a separate hand
I see into your world
You make no effort to hide
The tourniquet
Candles in a salt ring will dance
You don't have to repent tonight at all
Tongues will freeze and break apart
My god who's left to concede the cross
I don't want to be the one
I don't want to see the moment you forget
Unfed
In the sharpening of teeth
You will have to feel the grit of the concrete vibrate
Beneath your fingernails they'll find small pieces of stone
You'll face the sun
Cut with the pressure point
Inside the catacomb
The marble's colder than ice
Our match is damp
Lit with a separate hand
I see into your world
You make no effort to hide
The tourniquet
Candles in a salt ring will dance
You don't have to repent tonight
Stargaze in the moonlight
We'll burn
You don't have to defend the light at all
My love who’s left to cross inside the passageway
My god who’s left to hold inside your precious stare
Our bed, sweet death will foreclose on everybody's tongues
She'll freeze and break your heart
My love who's left to console the choir
I don't want to be the one
I don't want to be the anchor on your chest
Unkept
Have you ever been asleep
I was only keeping up to see you weep
Unfold
Inside the catacomb
The marble's colder than ice
Our match is damp
Lit with a separate hand
I see into your world
You make no effort to hide
The tourniquet
Candles in a salt ring will dance
You don't have to repent tonight at all
Tongues will freeze and break apart
My god who's left to concede the cross
I don't want to be the one
I don't want to see the moment you forget
Unfed
In the sharpening of teeth
You will have to feel the grit of the concrete vibrate
Beneath your fingernails they'll find small pieces of stone
You'll face the sun
Cut with the pressure point
Inside the catacomb
The marble's colder than ice
Our match is damp
Lit with a separate hand
I see into your world
You make no effort to hide
The tourniquet
Candles in a salt ring will dance
You don't have to repent tonight
Stargaze in the moonlight
We'll burn
You don't have to defend the light at all
My love who’s left to cross inside the passageway
My god who’s left to hold inside your precious stare
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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