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.
You're the only one to blame
If you try to see looking through your sleeve
You don't have to be afraid
But if you try to clean with kerosene
You'll burn away (burn away)
You roll the dice to see your fate
The devil always wins the game
You're better off with throwing grenades
Blow it up, you like the way it burns
You'll burn at every turn
Soon enough you're gonna have to learn
When you light the fire to your flame
There's nothing left to say
Don't expect for me to call your name
'Cause you wanna dream
But your therapy gets stuck inside your head
And when you try to leave
The hand that feeds is on your neck (on your neck)
You roll the dice to see your fate
The devil always wins the game
You're better off with throwing grenades
Blow it up, you like the way it burns
You'll burn at every turn
Soon enough you're gonna have to learn
When you light the fire to your flame
There's nothing left to say
Don't expect for me to call your name
You're the only one
You're the only one to blame
Come on
The only one to blame
Blow it up, you like the way it burns
You'll burn at every turn
Soon enough you're gonna have to learn
Explode, explode
When you light the fire to your flame
There's nothing left to say
Don't expect for me to call your name
You're the only one to blame
Don't expect for me to call your name
The only one to blame
Don't expect for me to call your name
The only one to blame
If you try to see looking through your sleeve
You don't have to be afraid
But if you try to clean with kerosene
You'll burn away (burn away)
You roll the dice to see your fate
The devil always wins the game
You're better off with throwing grenades
Blow it up, you like the way it burns
You'll burn at every turn
Soon enough you're gonna have to learn
When you light the fire to your flame
There's nothing left to say
Don't expect for me to call your name
'Cause you wanna dream
But your therapy gets stuck inside your head
And when you try to leave
The hand that feeds is on your neck (on your neck)
You roll the dice to see your fate
The devil always wins the game
You're better off with throwing grenades
Blow it up, you like the way it burns
You'll burn at every turn
Soon enough you're gonna have to learn
When you light the fire to your flame
There's nothing left to say
Don't expect for me to call your name
You're the only one
You're the only one to blame
Come on
The only one to blame
Blow it up, you like the way it burns
You'll burn at every turn
Soon enough you're gonna have to learn
Explode, explode
When you light the fire to your flame
There's nothing left to say
Don't expect for me to call your name
You're the only one to blame
Don't expect for me to call your name
The only one to blame
Don't expect for me to call your name
The only one to blame
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
War Lyrics as written by Aaron Rosa Lou Miceli
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Lead Vocalist Lou Miceli Jr said of this song: