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.
Born from the void and still pristine
Tranquil, vast and cold
See the orb of blue and green
When he spake the light shone gold
Brought to life, in the image of god
In this holy place
Settled amoung the creatures odd
Eve, dear girl, avert thy gaze
Claims to love them all
His world below
Minding not their fall
A mirthful show
Merriments in the centerpiece
Weird things in galore
Is this the cradle of the disease
That man alone must answer for?
Joy and delight, forever ceased
Sufferings abloom
Eaten alive by the cauldron beast
Let the drones ring to the sound of doom
Tranquil, vast and cold
See the orb of blue and green
When he spake the light shone gold
Brought to life, in the image of god
In this holy place
Settled amoung the creatures odd
Eve, dear girl, avert thy gaze
Claims to love them all
His world below
Minding not their fall
A mirthful show
Merriments in the centerpiece
Weird things in galore
Is this the cradle of the disease
That man alone must answer for?
Joy and delight, forever ceased
Sufferings abloom
Eaten alive by the cauldron beast
Let the drones ring to the sound of doom
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
THE GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS Lyrics as written by Erik Larsson Andreas Skoglund
Lyrics © Bluewater Music Corp.
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The Garden of Earthly Delights expresses the fears that dominated life in the Middle Ages-the insatiable weakness of man for not resisting sinful physical temptation, and eternal damnation in hell as just punishment of lustful human folly.