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.
My mind remains my pain
I'm tied down to this chain
It spirals as I ache
To find holy embrace
Stay with me, I'm afraid of my soul
Blackened and left in control
Cannot be free and you can't deny
The end is coming (the end is coming)
Will we live when we die?
Just keep on saving our goodbyes
The fear and the cost
The world will stain us with a scarlet cross
A symbol for my shame
The color of your name
It's how they see you break
And live with my mistakes
Sin for me, cast away from it all
Watching every letter fall
Hold onto me, and I can't let go
The end is coming (the end is coming)
Will we live when we die?
Just keep on saving our goodbyes
The fear and the cost
The world will stain us with a scarlet cross
Oh, oh, oh
With the fear and the cost
The world will stain us with a scarlet cross
Will we live when we die?
Just keep on saving our goodbyes
The fear and the cost
The world will stain us with a scarlet cross
Will we live when we die?
Just keep on saving our goodbyes
The fear and the cost
The world will stain us with a scarlet cross
Oh, oh, oh
With the fear and the cost
The world will stain us with a scarlet cross
Oh, oh, oh
With a scarlet cross
Oh, oh, oh
With a scarlet cross
I'm tied down to this chain
It spirals as I ache
To find holy embrace
Stay with me, I'm afraid of my soul
Blackened and left in control
Cannot be free and you can't deny
The end is coming (the end is coming)
Will we live when we die?
Just keep on saving our goodbyes
The fear and the cost
The world will stain us with a scarlet cross
A symbol for my shame
The color of your name
It's how they see you break
And live with my mistakes
Sin for me, cast away from it all
Watching every letter fall
Hold onto me, and I can't let go
The end is coming (the end is coming)
Will we live when we die?
Just keep on saving our goodbyes
The fear and the cost
The world will stain us with a scarlet cross
Oh, oh, oh
With the fear and the cost
The world will stain us with a scarlet cross
Will we live when we die?
Just keep on saving our goodbyes
The fear and the cost
The world will stain us with a scarlet cross
Will we live when we die?
Just keep on saving our goodbyes
The fear and the cost
The world will stain us with a scarlet cross
Oh, oh, oh
With the fear and the cost
The world will stain us with a scarlet cross
Oh, oh, oh
With a scarlet cross
Oh, oh, oh
With a scarlet cross
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
Scarlet Cross Lyrics as written by Erik Ron Andrew Biersack
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this is about ones world coming to an end and having to live with any reminders of past transgressions (symbolized by a scarlet cross in this case).