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.
Swinging fast, you attack, slow down my defense
All a blur, I was sure this is how it ends
Hit the mat on my back, that was it for me
Stinging sweat, out of breath, begging for relief
Wish I knew you were through, I'd protect myself
But now I'm down, bleeding out, begging for the bell
You bob and weave, lie and cheat to get me in the ring
In defeat I can see clearly everything
You hit me in the glass jaw
I never saw the hit at all
You hit me in the glass jaw
Whoa, whoa
You smashed me in a million pieces
I'm broken and beaten, please just leave me alone
You smashed me in a million pieces
I know you don't mean this, please just leave me alone
I'm shattered
You'd never put me back together
I'm shattered
You'd never gonna get me back
What you did could've been the very best for me
But instead in the end it was the worst thing
You could see I was weak, yeah, I should have known
But I was wrong, you were gone, now I'm all alone
You hit me in the glass jaw
I never saw the hit at all
You hit me in the glass jaw
Whoa, whoa
You smashed me in a million pieces
I'm broken and beaten, please just leave me alone
You smashed me in a million pieces
I know you don't mean this, please just leave me alone
I'm shattered
You'd never put me back together
I'm shattered
You'd never gonna get me back
Love was not my friend
Knocked me down again
The battle's done, bell is rung, yeah, you beat me good
I could probably hug it out like a fighter should
But instead I use my head and I walk away
So in the end I can stand to fight another day
You smashed me in a million pieces
I'm broken and beaten, please just leave me alone
You smashed me in a million pieces
You know I don't need this, please just leave me
You smashed me in a million pieces
I'm broken and beaten, please just leave me alone
You smashed me in a million pieces
I know you don't need this, please just leave me alone
I'm shattered
You'd never put me back together
I'm shattered
You'd never gonna get me back
I'm shattered
You'd never put me back together
I'm shattered
You'd never gonna get me back
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
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This is about the shock and devastation of the sudden ending of a relationship & the damage left in it’s wake.