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.
Remember the times when we were kids
Playing war games in your yard
Everybody had to be a hero
And get one in the heart
Night would fall and we'd call a truce
And all go home
Years went by we were average guys
Playing life by the rule of thumb
Till a man came on the TV
Talking bout war like he wanted one
He said Everybody line up, backs to the wall
Till your numbers called
You've gotta go and be a hero
I've got a new game for all you boys
Its war without a choice compulsory hero
Just try and make it home
Grandpa heard the call to all
For a war to end all wars
And your dad went off to do his bit
And he had to go one more
You've really got no say in it
You have to fight and that's the law
You've gotta go and be a hero
They made a law you had to go fight
One more crazy war compulsory hero
Just try and make it home
So all that had to be heroes
Went off to do their chores
None of them really wouldn't of known
How far a bloody war goes
They're dying to make it home
Then I think back on all those times
Playing war games in your yard
Everybody had to be a hero
Back then that wasn't hard
Night would fall on the battle zone
And we could all go home
You had to go and be a hero
They made a law that you had to go and fight
One more crazy war compulsory hero
Just try and make it home
Just try and make it home
But whose gonna make it home
Playing war games in your yard
Everybody had to be a hero
And get one in the heart
Night would fall and we'd call a truce
And all go home
Years went by we were average guys
Playing life by the rule of thumb
Till a man came on the TV
Talking bout war like he wanted one
He said Everybody line up, backs to the wall
Till your numbers called
You've gotta go and be a hero
I've got a new game for all you boys
Its war without a choice compulsory hero
Just try and make it home
Grandpa heard the call to all
For a war to end all wars
And your dad went off to do his bit
And he had to go one more
You've really got no say in it
You have to fight and that's the law
You've gotta go and be a hero
They made a law you had to go fight
One more crazy war compulsory hero
Just try and make it home
So all that had to be heroes
Went off to do their chores
None of them really wouldn't of known
How far a bloody war goes
They're dying to make it home
Then I think back on all those times
Playing war games in your yard
Everybody had to be a hero
Back then that wasn't hard
Night would fall on the battle zone
And we could all go home
You had to go and be a hero
They made a law that you had to go and fight
One more crazy war compulsory hero
Just try and make it home
Just try and make it home
But whose gonna make it home
Lyrics submitted by soullessbunny, edited by haulinoates
Compulsory Hero Lyrics as written by Garry Allan Frost Eric Peter Weideman
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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So this is the first comment \nI remember when I heard this song for the very first time and being completely overwhelmed with the question:\n\'So what\