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.
Departure of the frost, of the frozen (frozen)
Let them see the cost, what it costs them (costs them)
In this penetrating life
Skipping the stations of life
We are the ones on the lost path (lost path)
Dark trains on the rails of madness
Falling through the ice between the lively station
No one leaves and no one ever left
The birth of self-hate ignites the flame
It all crashes down from the inside
It all crashes down on me
You'll see through ice
But you cannot reach it, reach it
It all crashes down from the inside
It all crashes down for me
You'll see through ice
But you cannot reach me, reach me
Departure of the soul, stuck in limbo (limbo)
The work here is not done, I'll find a way (find a way)
Living in lies, I'll have to stop this now
The train is coming for all
Dark trains on the rails of madness
Falling through the ice between the lively station
The end of all is coming
No one leaves, and no one ever left
The birth of self-hate ignites the flame
It all crashes down from the inside
It all crashes down on me
You'll see through ice
But you cannot reach it
It all crashes down from the inside
It all crashes down on me
You'll see through ice
But you cannot reach it, reach it
It all crashes down from the inside
It all crashes for me
I see through ice
But you cannot reach me, reach me
It all crashes down from the inside
It all crashes down on me
I see through ice
But you cannot reach me, reach me
Darkened trails
Imprisonment has swallowed me
Inside this hell
The air I breathe repulses me
Yet I can't see
For what's inside of me
Let them see the cost, what it costs them (costs them)
In this penetrating life
Skipping the stations of life
We are the ones on the lost path (lost path)
Dark trains on the rails of madness
Falling through the ice between the lively station
No one leaves and no one ever left
The birth of self-hate ignites the flame
It all crashes down from the inside
It all crashes down on me
You'll see through ice
But you cannot reach it, reach it
It all crashes down from the inside
It all crashes down for me
You'll see through ice
But you cannot reach me, reach me
Departure of the soul, stuck in limbo (limbo)
The work here is not done, I'll find a way (find a way)
Living in lies, I'll have to stop this now
The train is coming for all
Dark trains on the rails of madness
Falling through the ice between the lively station
The end of all is coming
No one leaves, and no one ever left
The birth of self-hate ignites the flame
It all crashes down from the inside
It all crashes down on me
You'll see through ice
But you cannot reach it
It all crashes down from the inside
It all crashes down on me
You'll see through ice
But you cannot reach it, reach it
It all crashes down from the inside
It all crashes for me
I see through ice
But you cannot reach me, reach me
It all crashes down from the inside
It all crashes down on me
I see through ice
But you cannot reach me, reach me
Darkened trails
Imprisonment has swallowed me
Inside this hell
The air I breathe repulses me
Yet I can't see
For what's inside of me
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
From The Inside Lyrics as written by Niklas Karlsson
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Frontman Niklas Karlsson says of this track, "the lyrics contain several metaphors talking about not really being fit in or able to smash through the bullshit in your life. I drew a line between the similarity of solitude to being left in the cold outside, which mostly starts within yourself. That's how the whole visual aspect of the video came from, being left out, seeing the world and the rest of the world can see you, but you can't be touched."