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.
Get on your knees and bow down.
Yeah, I come alive, I'll survive, take on anything.
So paint a target on my back, let em come for me.
I don't fall, don't quit, don't ever sleep,
Cause I'm on another level that you'll never reach.
If you seek forgiveness,
You'll get nothing, you'll get nothing from me.
You will never know, it's the price I pay.
Look into my eyes, we are not the same.
Yeah this is where you fall apart.
Yeah this is where you break.
Because I'm in control and you'll know my name,
Cause I gave my life, gave it everything.
Yeah this is where you fall apart.
Yeah this is where you break.
To everybody who doubted...
Get on your knees and bow down.
Get on your knees and bow down.
You better recognize.
You wanna talk that shit, time to back it up,
Cause the best of your best ain't good enough, oh.
Playing with my name, now I know you really fucked up.
Keep running your mouth and I'ma call your bluff.
You will never know, it's the price I pay.
Look into my eyes, we are not the same.
Yeah this is where you fall apart.
Yeah this is where you break.
Because I'm in control and you'll know my name,
Cause I gave my life, gave it everything.
Yeah this is where you fall apart.
Yeah this is where you break.
To everybody who doubted...
Get on your knees and—
You're never gonna be enough...
So I had this dream, it meant everything and I watched it come alive.
Then I let you in, underneath my skin and I learned to love the lies.
Now I lay awake and I contemplate; Have I become what I hate?
Can I take it back? Cause it's all I have. Will it get the best of me?
Have you ever had a dream? Would you fight for it?
Would you go to war? Would you die for it?
So now I'll take my stand, now I'll make you see,
That if you seek forgiveness, you'll get nothing from me.
You'll get nothing from me.
You'll get nothing from me.
You'll get nothing from me.
To everybody who doubted...
To everybody who doubted...
To everybody who doubted...
Get on your knees and bow down.
Bow down.
Bow down.
Yeah, I come alive, I'll survive, take on anything.
So paint a target on my back, let em come for me.
I don't fall, don't quit, don't ever sleep,
Cause I'm on another level that you'll never reach.
If you seek forgiveness,
You'll get nothing, you'll get nothing from me.
You will never know, it's the price I pay.
Look into my eyes, we are not the same.
Yeah this is where you fall apart.
Yeah this is where you break.
Because I'm in control and you'll know my name,
Cause I gave my life, gave it everything.
Yeah this is where you fall apart.
Yeah this is where you break.
To everybody who doubted...
Get on your knees and bow down.
Get on your knees and bow down.
You better recognize.
You wanna talk that shit, time to back it up,
Cause the best of your best ain't good enough, oh.
Playing with my name, now I know you really fucked up.
Keep running your mouth and I'ma call your bluff.
You will never know, it's the price I pay.
Look into my eyes, we are not the same.
Yeah this is where you fall apart.
Yeah this is where you break.
Because I'm in control and you'll know my name,
Cause I gave my life, gave it everything.
Yeah this is where you fall apart.
Yeah this is where you break.
To everybody who doubted...
Get on your knees and—
You're never gonna be enough...
So I had this dream, it meant everything and I watched it come alive.
Then I let you in, underneath my skin and I learned to love the lies.
Now I lay awake and I contemplate; Have I become what I hate?
Can I take it back? Cause it's all I have. Will it get the best of me?
Have you ever had a dream? Would you fight for it?
Would you go to war? Would you die for it?
So now I'll take my stand, now I'll make you see,
That if you seek forgiveness, you'll get nothing from me.
You'll get nothing from me.
You'll get nothing from me.
You'll get nothing from me.
To everybody who doubted...
To everybody who doubted...
To everybody who doubted...
Get on your knees and bow down.
Bow down.
Bow down.
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow, edited by AdamArtz
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