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.
The prosthetic limbs of social norms are beating us today
The burdens we all must hide, or pay for it
Transgressions aside
Be a martyr for life
And everything will be fucking fine
Transgressions aside
Having the time of our lives
Now pay for it and you'll savor every last drop
Two as one
Fodder for the slaughterhouse
Quartered on the killing floor
You and I
Are searching for something beyond this social condition
Fill the ballot and give our permission
Over and over again and again
Sort your condition
Get down with submission
Sort your condition
For submission
Sort your condition, baby
Get down with submission
Searching for something beyond this social condition
Cast your vote and then move aside
Tradition of submission starting from the womb
You better watch what you say
They always know what's best though
Conditioned by their vision
Sinking in our tombs
The pressure is always there
We know they want what's best though
Of course they do
I think it's time to stop pointing fingers
And start looking inward, oh
Measure the cases 'cause it's not right
Just to generalize
Start staring down your life
Maybe you'll see things much clearer
Imploring what's down in your mind
To make an appearance
Sort your condition
Sort your condition
Throw it in remission
Throw it aside
Tradition of submission starting from the womb
You better watch what you say
They always know what's best though
Conditioned by their vision
Sinking in our tombs
The pressure is always there
We know they want what's best though
Will it ever be?
Will we ever live in honesty?
'Cause we're falling apart, falling apart, you and I
Will it ever be?
Will we ever live another day in honesty?
'Cause we're falling apart, right from the start, you and I
Will it ever be?
Will we ever live in honesty? (Honesty)
'Cause we're falling apart, falling apart, you and I (oh)
Will it ever be?
Will we ever live another day in honesty? (Honesty)
'Cause we're falling apart, right from the start, you and I (oh)
So paint that picture to sleep at night
No regard for another's life
We'll be just fine (oh)
So paint that picture to sleep at night (oh)
No regard for another's life (oh)
We'll be just fine (you and I)
The burdens we all must hide, or pay for it
Transgressions aside
Be a martyr for life
And everything will be fucking fine
Transgressions aside
Having the time of our lives
Now pay for it and you'll savor every last drop
Two as one
Fodder for the slaughterhouse
Quartered on the killing floor
You and I
Are searching for something beyond this social condition
Fill the ballot and give our permission
Over and over again and again
Sort your condition
Get down with submission
Sort your condition
For submission
Sort your condition, baby
Get down with submission
Searching for something beyond this social condition
Cast your vote and then move aside
Tradition of submission starting from the womb
You better watch what you say
They always know what's best though
Conditioned by their vision
Sinking in our tombs
The pressure is always there
We know they want what's best though
Of course they do
I think it's time to stop pointing fingers
And start looking inward, oh
Measure the cases 'cause it's not right
Just to generalize
Start staring down your life
Maybe you'll see things much clearer
Imploring what's down in your mind
To make an appearance
Sort your condition
Sort your condition
Throw it in remission
Throw it aside
Tradition of submission starting from the womb
You better watch what you say
They always know what's best though
Conditioned by their vision
Sinking in our tombs
The pressure is always there
We know they want what's best though
Will it ever be?
Will we ever live in honesty?
'Cause we're falling apart, falling apart, you and I
Will it ever be?
Will we ever live another day in honesty?
'Cause we're falling apart, right from the start, you and I
Will it ever be?
Will we ever live in honesty? (Honesty)
'Cause we're falling apart, falling apart, you and I (oh)
Will it ever be?
Will we ever live another day in honesty? (Honesty)
'Cause we're falling apart, right from the start, you and I (oh)
So paint that picture to sleep at night
No regard for another's life
We'll be just fine (oh)
So paint that picture to sleep at night (oh)
No regard for another's life (oh)
We'll be just fine (you and I)
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
Zagreus Lyrics as written by Mark Holcomb Jake Bowen
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this is about how society wants everyone to conform to certain standards or else they toss them aside like human waste.
The song/ title is inspired by a roguelike 2020 video game titled 'Hades' in which the player takes the role of Zagreus, the immortal prince of the Underworld, who is trying to escape the realm to get away from his unloving father Hades, and reach his mother Persephone in the mortal world, while fighting through many angry lost souls along the way.