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.
Stale, numb beating corpse of a symptom
Hide out in the hallway
You, my choice, when I didn't choose to feel anything
Try and do it on my own
Oh, I feel dead
Never admit you pretend
Fentanyl Rush
Who kicked the door down
Not from the exit
Chasing the gunpowder, I fell right in
Under the shower the flower forgives us
Denying everything, seasonal drain
I never wanted to die on the west coast
Tame smoke
Tighten a grip on the cellphone
Hang up
Livid Star
Magnify the defects that strangle my heart
In between the solstice we fell apart
Lie, laying your head on my chest
Oh, if I fail
Cigarette ash on the bed
What does it cost
I couldn't save her, empty the garden
Can you forgive me the way that I've been
Hell could be easy if time could release us
That which controls me will take you away
I never wanted to die on the west coast
Never to hold you again
Die on the west coast
Hide out in the hallway
You, my choice, when I didn't choose to feel anything
Try and do it on my own
Oh, I feel dead
Never admit you pretend
Fentanyl Rush
Who kicked the door down
Not from the exit
Chasing the gunpowder, I fell right in
Under the shower the flower forgives us
Denying everything, seasonal drain
I never wanted to die on the west coast
Tame smoke
Tighten a grip on the cellphone
Hang up
Livid Star
Magnify the defects that strangle my heart
In between the solstice we fell apart
Lie, laying your head on my chest
Oh, if I fail
Cigarette ash on the bed
What does it cost
I couldn't save her, empty the garden
Can you forgive me the way that I've been
Hell could be easy if time could release us
That which controls me will take you away
I never wanted to die on the west coast
Never to hold you again
Die on the west coast
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
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I think this has to do with vocalist Anthony Greens struggles on & off with substance use and how it can effect relationships & be toxic to the entirety of ones life in general.