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.
"Hello." Hello there
"Who's this?" Soon you'll discover
"I'm sorry, sir, but I think you have the wrong number"
In just a minute you'll be dying to hang on the line
Tell me your name, I'll tell you mine
"My name? But why?"
You picked up the phone
When mom and dad left you alone
I wanna know who I'm looking at
A dial tone, a deadly ring
So far away from everything
No silver screens or movie scenes
When your number's up, it's time to scream
"Who's there?"
Don't you know not to ask those questions?
"What will become of me?"
You ought to know it's a sure death sentence
Have you not seen this movie?
Freddy, Michael, Jason Voorhees
Learn from those who came before me
Next question, same category
Such a familiar story
"I'm hanging up the phone"
Wrong answer
"My mom and dad will soon be home
I won't fall victim to the blade I'm not afraid of"
A dial tone, a deadly ring
So far away from everything
No silver screens or movie scenes
When your number's up, it's time to scream
"What do you want?"
I wanna see what your insides look like
"How could you be so evil"
Our film is nearly finished
And for you there is no sequel
Bitch I'll leave your body on the cutting room floor
All bets are off I just buried Drew Barrymore!
When the cops find the phone
"Just let me go!"
The call is still listed as "unknown"
It's the end of the line, and all that's left is
A dial tone, a deadly ring
So far away from everything
No silver screens or movie scenes
When your number's up, it's time to scream
Because the knife in you brings out the life in me
Last seen in a slasher's dream
When your number's up, it's time to scream
It's time to scream
A dial tone, a deadly ring
So far away from everything
No silver screens or movie scenes
When your number's up, it's time to scream
“Woodsboro police department, what's your emergency?”
“I'm being attacked! I'm at 1220 Craven lane, please, he's gonna kill me!”
"Who's this?" Soon you'll discover
"I'm sorry, sir, but I think you have the wrong number"
In just a minute you'll be dying to hang on the line
Tell me your name, I'll tell you mine
"My name? But why?"
You picked up the phone
When mom and dad left you alone
I wanna know who I'm looking at
A dial tone, a deadly ring
So far away from everything
No silver screens or movie scenes
When your number's up, it's time to scream
"Who's there?"
Don't you know not to ask those questions?
"What will become of me?"
You ought to know it's a sure death sentence
Have you not seen this movie?
Freddy, Michael, Jason Voorhees
Learn from those who came before me
Next question, same category
Such a familiar story
"I'm hanging up the phone"
Wrong answer
"My mom and dad will soon be home
I won't fall victim to the blade I'm not afraid of"
A dial tone, a deadly ring
So far away from everything
No silver screens or movie scenes
When your number's up, it's time to scream
"What do you want?"
I wanna see what your insides look like
"How could you be so evil"
Our film is nearly finished
And for you there is no sequel
Bitch I'll leave your body on the cutting room floor
All bets are off I just buried Drew Barrymore!
When the cops find the phone
"Just let me go!"
The call is still listed as "unknown"
It's the end of the line, and all that's left is
A dial tone, a deadly ring
So far away from everything
No silver screens or movie scenes
When your number's up, it's time to scream
Because the knife in you brings out the life in me
Last seen in a slasher's dream
When your number's up, it's time to scream
It's time to scream
A dial tone, a deadly ring
So far away from everything
No silver screens or movie scenes
When your number's up, it's time to scream
“Woodsboro police department, what's your emergency?”
“I'm being attacked! I'm at 1220 Craven lane, please, he's gonna kill me!”
Lyrics submitted by furyroad97
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The track is a tribute to the Wes Craven flick Scream, and uniquely features lyrics written as the dialogue in an emergency phone call.