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.
Whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa
Ahh, ahh
Ohh
Roses in the bush
Cut down at the Garden's Gate
It was too late
So much has fallen
Sound the broken bells
The priestess amongst us heeds
Bring in the seeds
A garden must grow, ohh
It has been said
By the likes of the living and the dead
Make your bed
Even sinners go to drink the wine, break the bread
Ah, ohh
Prisoners of the king
Are promised their freedom for
Planting a score
Of infantry vines
From the bowing earth
Uprises the weeds of war
Caving the floor
A renaissance born, ohh
It has been said
By the likes of the living and the dead
Make your bed
Even sinners go to drink the wine, break the bread
Ah, ohh
Whoa, ohh
Ohh-oh, oh
Oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh, ohh
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Whoa, whoa, whoa, it has been said
Yeah, yeah, yeah, make up your bed
Whoa, whoa, whoa, lay down your head
Whoa, whoa
Ahh, ahh
Ohh
Roses in the bush
Cut down at the Garden's Gate
It was too late
So much has fallen
Sound the broken bells
The priestess amongst us heeds
Bring in the seeds
A garden must grow, ohh
It has been said
By the likes of the living and the dead
Make your bed
Even sinners go to drink the wine, break the bread
Ah, ohh
Prisoners of the king
Are promised their freedom for
Planting a score
Of infantry vines
From the bowing earth
Uprises the weeds of war
Caving the floor
A renaissance born, ohh
It has been said
By the likes of the living and the dead
Make your bed
Even sinners go to drink the wine, break the bread
Ah, ohh
Whoa, ohh
Ohh-oh, oh
Oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh, ohh
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Whoa, whoa, whoa, it has been said
Yeah, yeah, yeah, make up your bed
Whoa, whoa, whoa, lay down your head
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
Stardust Chords Lyrics as written by Greg Kurstin Daniel Robert Wagner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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“Stardust Chords” is even more metaphorical than the usual Greta Van Fleet fare. So I'm compelled to go out on a limb, i.e. speculate, even in terms of ascertaining a premise for its meaning. The 'garden’s gate' as mentioned in the first verse I believe is same one referenced in "The Battle at Garden’s Gate”, the titled of the overall project this track is featured on. It could in fact be that “the garden” referred to is actually the 'Garden of Eden'. This locality representative of both origin of man as well as from a scriptural standpoint a point in history where man fell from grace by becoming more preoccupied with his own selfish ambitions as opposed to the greater good. Or as the Bible and other such texts commonly present the story, the Garden of Eden was the place where sin was first committed. And as punishment mankind was cast out of the Garden which was then sealed, by a “gate” if you will, so that no one could enter therein. And it would appear that such is what this song is actually premised on, ‘the Fall of Man’ and being cast out of the Garden of Eden. And in the aftermath of such transpiring, then what set in is a vain ambition amongst men to reclaim the Garden of Eden. And similarly as far as the second verse goes, also as a result of being cast out of the Garden, war was introduced into the world, perhaps, considering what has been put forth above, in an attempt to reclaim it.
@EternalTearsOfSorrow I love this interpretation.