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.
No god from the machine
No saviors lay in wait
We've left the wooded valley
Headed toward the precipice
This mountain is a monster
Austerity bites, severe, serene
Luddites try as they might
Discontents appear in every face
And dwell upon every tongue
Our skin is cracked, our hands are heavy, our hearts are weary from the climb
Our skin is cracked, our hands are heavy, our hearts are weary from the climb
Austerity bites, severe, serene
Luddites try as they might
Discontents appear in every face
And dwell upon every tongue
Austerity bites, severe, serene
Luddites try as they might
Discontents appear in every face
And dwell upon every tongue
Tongue
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
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Luddites are people opposed to new technology or ways of working. I think this song makes the point of how as a society we've become essentially slaves to technology to the point where we've backed away from actual human contact.