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.
Emperor's new horse, take five
You're the Emperor's new horse
You don't smell like a rose
So you take more drugs than me
Specialize in being unhappy
Like a moth into the flame
Yeah, I've been burnt before
Lets rub his ashes on my skin
And someday we will win, who
In this time
There are those who rob us blind, well
In this time
They sing through, sing through golden teeth
Bring on the new
I'm guilty, too
Someday, maybe I'll learn
What's your fucking name?
Don't look too concerned
Don't abandon truth, wow
In this time
There are those who rob us blind, who
In this time
They sing through, they sing through golden teeth
Bring on the new
Being angry is your game
Overdosing's part of fame
So you read all this French symbolist poetry
You don't even get it on the fucking BBC
I don't really care no more
Boring out the door
I don't know what's true
It don't affect you
That's right damn lies above
In this time
There are those who rob us blind
Bring on the new
In this time
They sing through, sing through golden teeth
Bring on the new meat
Bring on the new meat
Bring on the new meat
Bring on the new meat
Bring it on, baby
Bring, bring, bring on the new meat, baby
You're the Emperor's new horse
You don't smell like a rose
So you take more drugs than me
Specialize in being unhappy
Like a moth into the flame
Yeah, I've been burnt before
Lets rub his ashes on my skin
And someday we will win, who
In this time
There are those who rob us blind, well
In this time
They sing through, sing through golden teeth
Bring on the new
I'm guilty, too
Someday, maybe I'll learn
What's your fucking name?
Don't look too concerned
Don't abandon truth, wow
In this time
There are those who rob us blind, who
In this time
They sing through, they sing through golden teeth
Bring on the new
Being angry is your game
Overdosing's part of fame
So you read all this French symbolist poetry
You don't even get it on the fucking BBC
I don't really care no more
Boring out the door
I don't know what's true
It don't affect you
That's right damn lies above
In this time
There are those who rob us blind
Bring on the new
In this time
They sing through, sing through golden teeth
Bring on the new meat
Bring on the new meat
Bring on the new meat
Bring on the new meat
Bring it on, baby
Bring, bring, bring on the new meat, baby
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Much of this album seems to be about rock stars and drugs, and this song especially. Also seems to be about the record industry and how some musicians are taken advantage of for fame and a smaller piece of the pie than they deserve.