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 seem to think you can take
Everything you want from everyone else
Maybe if you worked a single day in your life
You'd realize what it takes to provide for yourself
You stole from those you love
You stole from those who trusted you
Put down the shovel cause this hole you're digging
Can't get any deeper
Keep it up keep it up
And you'll be alone forever
Here you stand with a crown upon your head
You are lesser now than you have ever been
There are no more bridges left for you to burn
When will you learn?
Open up your eyes
Look at all the lives that you've torn apart
Because you think you've got the right
But deep down inside
I know that you'll find
That all this time you've been hiding from the truth
You have no story to tell
All the sinners stopped sinning so they
Won't have to see your face in hell
Oh burn
When will you see
That deception gets you nowhere?
It might seem like you're living the dream but
To everyone else you're a fucking nightmare
Here you stand with a crown upon your head
You are lesser now than you have ever been
There are no more bridges left for you to burn
When will you learn?
Give it up or you'll be alone forever
Give it up or this is how you'll always be remembered
Everything you want from everyone else
Maybe if you worked a single day in your life
You'd realize what it takes to provide for yourself
You stole from those you love
You stole from those who trusted you
Put down the shovel cause this hole you're digging
Can't get any deeper
Keep it up keep it up
And you'll be alone forever
Here you stand with a crown upon your head
You are lesser now than you have ever been
There are no more bridges left for you to burn
When will you learn?
Open up your eyes
Look at all the lives that you've torn apart
Because you think you've got the right
But deep down inside
I know that you'll find
That all this time you've been hiding from the truth
You have no story to tell
All the sinners stopped sinning so they
Won't have to see your face in hell
Oh burn
When will you see
That deception gets you nowhere?
It might seem like you're living the dream but
To everyone else you're a fucking nightmare
Here you stand with a crown upon your head
You are lesser now than you have ever been
There are no more bridges left for you to burn
When will you learn?
Give it up or you'll be alone forever
Give it up or this is how you'll always be remembered
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
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This is about those you lie, cheat and steal from others their whole lives and have to live with the consequences of their actions every day they are alive.