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.
Yeah, I got voices in my head again, tread carefully
And I don't medicate, it helps me temporarily
I got problems, I got issues, yeah, apparently
Trauma that I'm burying, I think I need some therapy
I battle depression, I'm back with a message
I'm asking the question that if you hate me
Why you acting obsessive?
I'm past the point of no return, fuck being passive aggressive
I'll brandish a weapon, teach all you motherfuckers a lesson, yeah
I actually battle my demons and shadows
They swim in the deep and they creep in the shallows, I'm lost
I gotta admit that I'm living the life
That I've always wanted but it comes at a cost (yeah)
They're licking their chops, they're fixing to rip me a part
I'm swimming with sharks, I'm lifting the bar
I'm lifting it into the stars
I'm like a shot of adrenaline mixed with some Ritalin
Started a battle, but bitch, I'ma finish it
You think you can stop me, not even a little bit
Nowadays everybody's so sensitive
Taking my words and you pick it apart
Tripping on nothing, just get in the car
Gripping and ripping I'm sticking the mark
I'm tipping the ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-charts
'Cause I got enemies trying to get rid of me
Evil tendencies are fucking with me mentally
I got people that don't like me in the industry
I can feel your energy, you are not a friend to me
'Cause I have been to places that you never wanna go, yeah
I got dirt on people but they act like I don't know, yeah
I could do some damage but I'll never rock the boat
All it takes is one post, watch 'em fall like dominoes
You'll never get rid of me, too many mini-me's ripping my imagery
You know my history, it ain't a mystery
Put every enemy outta they misery
Somebody send me some positive energy
About to go Darth, I'm 'bout to go Disney
Into the darkness, into infinity
And shut you motherfuckers up, you listening?
Stacking every little pretty penny that I'm getting
And I'm never giving in to anybody, always winning
Never kidding when I die, I'm taking everybody with me 'cause
You're never gonna get me, 'cause you'll never see it simply
I'm a motherfucking god, you're a light yawn
I'm a time bomb and the vibes wrong, is this mic on?
I'm killing the syllables with a loaded refillable
I'm a lyrical typical supervillain, I'm venomous
And I'm never gonna stop until they put me on top of the list
I can't control the monster any longer that's inside
The pain and sorrow left us hollow
No tomorrows, hard to swallow
Death is calling, so appalling
Tightrope walking, now I'm falling down
Like missiles falling from the sky
Come and save us
The pain and sorrow left us hollow
Here today but gone tomorrow
The pain inside is the fuel that drives
This flesh and bone through blood red skies (hahaha)
The death defying, hypnotizing
One day you're gonna figure out
That everything they taught you was a lie
Watch the world burn
The fear keeps you alive
Break the fucking chains, take back your life
The fear is what keeps you insane
Break the fucking chains, take away the pain
And I don't medicate, it helps me temporarily
I got problems, I got issues, yeah, apparently
Trauma that I'm burying, I think I need some therapy
I battle depression, I'm back with a message
I'm asking the question that if you hate me
Why you acting obsessive?
I'm past the point of no return, fuck being passive aggressive
I'll brandish a weapon, teach all you motherfuckers a lesson, yeah
I actually battle my demons and shadows
They swim in the deep and they creep in the shallows, I'm lost
I gotta admit that I'm living the life
That I've always wanted but it comes at a cost (yeah)
They're licking their chops, they're fixing to rip me a part
I'm swimming with sharks, I'm lifting the bar
I'm lifting it into the stars
I'm like a shot of adrenaline mixed with some Ritalin
Started a battle, but bitch, I'ma finish it
You think you can stop me, not even a little bit
Nowadays everybody's so sensitive
Taking my words and you pick it apart
Tripping on nothing, just get in the car
Gripping and ripping I'm sticking the mark
I'm tipping the ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-charts
'Cause I got enemies trying to get rid of me
Evil tendencies are fucking with me mentally
I got people that don't like me in the industry
I can feel your energy, you are not a friend to me
'Cause I have been to places that you never wanna go, yeah
I got dirt on people but they act like I don't know, yeah
I could do some damage but I'll never rock the boat
All it takes is one post, watch 'em fall like dominoes
You'll never get rid of me, too many mini-me's ripping my imagery
You know my history, it ain't a mystery
Put every enemy outta they misery
Somebody send me some positive energy
About to go Darth, I'm 'bout to go Disney
Into the darkness, into infinity
And shut you motherfuckers up, you listening?
Stacking every little pretty penny that I'm getting
And I'm never giving in to anybody, always winning
Never kidding when I die, I'm taking everybody with me 'cause
You're never gonna get me, 'cause you'll never see it simply
I'm a motherfucking god, you're a light yawn
I'm a time bomb and the vibes wrong, is this mic on?
I'm killing the syllables with a loaded refillable
I'm a lyrical typical supervillain, I'm venomous
And I'm never gonna stop until they put me on top of the list
I can't control the monster any longer that's inside
The pain and sorrow left us hollow
No tomorrows, hard to swallow
Death is calling, so appalling
Tightrope walking, now I'm falling down
Like missiles falling from the sky
Come and save us
The pain and sorrow left us hollow
Here today but gone tomorrow
The pain inside is the fuel that drives
This flesh and bone through blood red skies (hahaha)
The death defying, hypnotizing
One day you're gonna figure out
That everything they taught you was a lie
Watch the world burn
The fear keeps you alive
Break the fucking chains, take back your life
The fear is what keeps you insane
Break the fucking chains, take away the pain
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
Watch the World Burn Lyrics as written by James Cody Quistad Christian Thompson
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
Traversing themes of mental illness, physical and mental anguish, and the shadow work done to get to the other side of it, ‘Watch The World Burn’ quickly moves into the eye of the storm, a brief moment of eerie clarity where the songs true form is revealed – A firm, structurally sound threat to all of those who stand in their way, replete with what looks to be a caricature of frontman Ronnie Radke’s recent Twitter sparring partner, Skid Row's Sebastian Bach getting domed, though we imagine that will never be officially confirmed or denied.