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.
Cue the light, watch this show
Till you find the one you know
Aaaah, eyes wide, skin aflame
All you were is wiped away
All you love has died today
You stand by
You stand by
You stand by
And let it happen
All you were is wiped away
All you love has died today
All you were is wiped away
All you love has died today
Run
you are a setting sun
Night to night
Stand them up against the wall
Through the smoke the bodies fall
Aaaah, and the crowd seems appeased
All you were is wiped away
All you love has died today
You stand by
You stand by
You stand by
And let it happen
All you were is wiped away
All you love has died today
All you were is wiped away
All you love has died today
Run
You are a setting sun
Night to night
Run
You are a setting sun
Night to night
You stand by
You stand by
You stand by
And let it happen
Watch it come down
Oh, you're setting sun
Watch it come down
Oh, you're setting sun
Watch you go down
Oh, you're setting sun
Watch you go down
Oh, you're setting sun
Till you find the one you know
Aaaah, eyes wide, skin aflame
All you were is wiped away
All you love has died today
You stand by
You stand by
You stand by
And let it happen
All you were is wiped away
All you love has died today
All you were is wiped away
All you love has died today
Run
you are a setting sun
Night to night
Stand them up against the wall
Through the smoke the bodies fall
Aaaah, and the crowd seems appeased
All you were is wiped away
All you love has died today
You stand by
You stand by
You stand by
And let it happen
All you were is wiped away
All you love has died today
All you were is wiped away
All you love has died today
Run
You are a setting sun
Night to night
Run
You are a setting sun
Night to night
You stand by
You stand by
You stand by
And let it happen
Watch it come down
Oh, you're setting sun
Watch it come down
Oh, you're setting sun
Watch you go down
Oh, you're setting sun
Watch you go down
Oh, you're setting sun
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
Setting Sun Lyrics as written by Gil Sharone Brann Timothy Dailor
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this song is about how easily someone can fall from grace. No matter how high in regard we hold our heroes, the bigger they are - the harder they can fall. Here today & gone tomorrow - the brightest sun can so dimly set.