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.
Colossus
Arise
In the image of man
We breed our demons
On the wide wings of science
Our abomination of a child flies
Ask me for your name, my friend
Tell me what I feel like to you
Is it coming to an end?
I don't understand it
Colossus
Colossus, arise
In old bones in the soil
We plant a garden
We are harvesting progress
The glow of a worm inside a child's eye
Ask me for your name, my friend
Tell me what I feel like to you
Is it coming to an end?
I don't understand it
Colossus
Colossus, arise
Make your way up to the top
Of electric mountains
Ask me for your name, my friend
Tell me what I feel like to you
Is it coming to an end?
I don't understand it
Colossus
Colossus, arise
Colossus
Arise
Arise
In the image of man
We breed our demons
On the wide wings of science
Our abomination of a child flies
Ask me for your name, my friend
Tell me what I feel like to you
Is it coming to an end?
I don't understand it
Colossus
Colossus, arise
In old bones in the soil
We plant a garden
We are harvesting progress
The glow of a worm inside a child's eye
Ask me for your name, my friend
Tell me what I feel like to you
Is it coming to an end?
I don't understand it
Colossus
Colossus, arise
Make your way up to the top
Of electric mountains
Ask me for your name, my friend
Tell me what I feel like to you
Is it coming to an end?
I don't understand it
Colossus
Colossus, arise
Colossus
Arise
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
Colossus Lyrics as written by John Alfredsson Henrik Sandelin
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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Vocalist Johannes Eckerstrom points to the song "Colossus" as a track that is taking a darker view on our future and the reliance on technology to eventually be a salvation for us moving forward as a society.