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.
Impersonate yourself
It looks all wrong
The medic is ascending to another realm
You dance around your worth
You count it out
The fabric tears completely
And disappears
Dry your eyes
Tear them open
Peel the lids back on everyone
And watch it go
Still echoing
Into the space we left between
And I remember when you couldn't stand
Holding onto me
So long
They dry off all the ink
It bleeds right?
The marquee is defective
It never shines
Impersonate yourself
It looks alright
The mirror cracks completely
In another room
From where I am there's a different view
You can compare the reflection
It looks all wrong from a higher point
It never shines when you want it
Dry your eyes
Tear them open
Peel the lids back on everyone
And watch it go
Still echoing
Into the space we left between
And I remember when you couldn't stand
Holding onto me
So long
And watch it go
Still echoing
Into the space we left between
And I remember when you couldn't stand
Holding onto me
So long
Impersonate yourself, it looks all wrong
The medic is ascending to another realm
It looks all wrong
The medic is ascending to another realm
You dance around your worth
You count it out
The fabric tears completely
And disappears
Dry your eyes
Tear them open
Peel the lids back on everyone
And watch it go
Still echoing
Into the space we left between
And I remember when you couldn't stand
Holding onto me
So long
They dry off all the ink
It bleeds right?
The marquee is defective
It never shines
Impersonate yourself
It looks alright
The mirror cracks completely
In another room
From where I am there's a different view
You can compare the reflection
It looks all wrong from a higher point
It never shines when you want it
Dry your eyes
Tear them open
Peel the lids back on everyone
And watch it go
Still echoing
Into the space we left between
And I remember when you couldn't stand
Holding onto me
So long
And watch it go
Still echoing
Into the space we left between
And I remember when you couldn't stand
Holding onto me
So long
Impersonate yourself, it looks all wrong
The medic is ascending to another realm
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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This song speaks of personal relationships and things like policy and politics; look at the practicality of your ideology and make sure you aren’t making decisions based on what it represents emotionally – also make sure the decision is practical. Don’t live your life solely based on your preconceptions.