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.
Get up, man
We have miles to go
Along gray plains
And dark oceans
In the wind and rain
With slow beats of wings
Even herons going away
Like dark ships
Like omens
Like defeated knights
Season by season
We are nothing but human beings,
Madness and reason
Bent by storms and dreams
Looking for what is lost
We drink our beer
Waiting for better times
Hoping for another day
Everything we bring
Does not weight
And does not gleam
Just faded memories
Mixed with dreams
Just a fine line
Tense on the eventualities
We’ll get lost
Or we’ll meet again
In advanced connectivity
All roads end
In the depths of soul
Where light winds blow
To fill our sails
All roads end
In the depths of soul
In the hidden skies
Where the sun can rise again
All roads end
In the depths of soul
Where light winds blow
To fill our sails
Get up man
This will not be the last day
Let’s look around
Somewhere
The sun will rise again
Get up, man
On this gray plain
Suddenly one day
The sun will rise again
Season by season
We are nothing but human beings
Madness and reason
Bent by storms and dreams
Season by season
We’re only human
Madness and reason
Bent by storms and dreams
By storms and dreams
Season by season
We’re only human
Madness and reason
Bent by storms and dreams
We’re only human
Bent by storms and dreams
We have miles to go
Along gray plains
And dark oceans
In the wind and rain
With slow beats of wings
Even herons going away
Like dark ships
Like omens
Like defeated knights
Season by season
We are nothing but human beings,
Madness and reason
Bent by storms and dreams
Looking for what is lost
We drink our beer
Waiting for better times
Hoping for another day
Everything we bring
Does not weight
And does not gleam
Just faded memories
Mixed with dreams
Just a fine line
Tense on the eventualities
We’ll get lost
Or we’ll meet again
In advanced connectivity
All roads end
In the depths of soul
Where light winds blow
To fill our sails
All roads end
In the depths of soul
In the hidden skies
Where the sun can rise again
All roads end
In the depths of soul
Where light winds blow
To fill our sails
Get up man
This will not be the last day
Let’s look around
Somewhere
The sun will rise again
Get up, man
On this gray plain
Suddenly one day
The sun will rise again
Season by season
We are nothing but human beings
Madness and reason
Bent by storms and dreams
Season by season
We’re only human
Madness and reason
Bent by storms and dreams
By storms and dreams
Season by season
We’re only human
Madness and reason
Bent by storms and dreams
We’re only human
Bent by storms and dreams
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
I think this is about the potential power of the human spirit, the resolve that it contains which if it was fully realized could be so relentless & healing.