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.
From the earth we will return
An inevitable fate
The undeniable truth
The paragon of life
Return to the earth
I shut my eyes and the world drops dead
I lift my head and all is born again
From the moment of destruction
We will create ourselves
From the moment of darkness
We will find a new light
I shut my eyes and the world drops dead
I lift my head and all is born again
Breathe life into the ashes
Cleanse us of our actions
The earth will quake if just for a moment
The rivers will run dry by the mire
Embers left in the wake of the lightning
And new life will be born in fire
Bursting into flames
Burning in disdain
Ash to ash
Dust to dust
Turning in the grave
Returning to reclaim
My hollow hideous soul
Fall to the earth like black snow
Envelope my withered bones
Emerging from the cinders
But I'll be back again
When everything is withered
I'll draw my final breath
And shut my eyes as the world drops dead
Then lift my head and all is born again
Breathe life into the ashes
Cleanse us of our actions
Breathe life into the ashes
The earth will quake if just for a moment
The rivers will run dry by the mire
Embers left in the wake of the lightning
And new life will be born in fire
Bursting into flames
Burning in disdain
Ash to ash
Dust to dust
Turning in the grave
Returning to reclaim
My hollow hideous soul
Fall to the earth like black snow
Envelope my withered bones
Ash to ash
Dust to dust
Fall to the earth like black snow
Bursting into flames
Burning in disdain
Ash to ash
Dust to dust
Turning in the grave
Returning to reclaim
My hollow hideous soul
Fall to the earth like black snow
Envelope my withered bones
I am a hideous soul
An inevitable fate
The undeniable truth
The paragon of life
Return to the earth
I shut my eyes and the world drops dead
I lift my head and all is born again
From the moment of destruction
We will create ourselves
From the moment of darkness
We will find a new light
I shut my eyes and the world drops dead
I lift my head and all is born again
Breathe life into the ashes
Cleanse us of our actions
The earth will quake if just for a moment
The rivers will run dry by the mire
Embers left in the wake of the lightning
And new life will be born in fire
Bursting into flames
Burning in disdain
Ash to ash
Dust to dust
Turning in the grave
Returning to reclaim
My hollow hideous soul
Fall to the earth like black snow
Envelope my withered bones
Emerging from the cinders
But I'll be back again
When everything is withered
I'll draw my final breath
And shut my eyes as the world drops dead
Then lift my head and all is born again
Breathe life into the ashes
Cleanse us of our actions
Breathe life into the ashes
The earth will quake if just for a moment
The rivers will run dry by the mire
Embers left in the wake of the lightning
And new life will be born in fire
Bursting into flames
Burning in disdain
Ash to ash
Dust to dust
Turning in the grave
Returning to reclaim
My hollow hideous soul
Fall to the earth like black snow
Envelope my withered bones
Ash to ash
Dust to dust
Fall to the earth like black snow
Bursting into flames
Burning in disdain
Ash to ash
Dust to dust
Turning in the grave
Returning to reclaim
My hollow hideous soul
Fall to the earth like black snow
Envelope my withered bones
I am a hideous soul
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
...And I Return to Nothingness Lyrics as written by Adam Demicco Will Ramos
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this is about the struggle of emerging from the depths of destruction & grip of agony - how this can ultimately be an experience that tests someone on a whole other level.