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.
Fell in rows, just like dominoes
Held the line for just one day
Standing in perfect columns still
Graves lined-up across the hill
Pistols at dawn
Aw now you done it, baby
Oh no
I shoulda figured
You always make a fuss
What, you're an expert?
You read about it somewhere?
Baby, oh
"He had it coming"
It's always something with you
Civilized, evil eyes
Seen so much, we've gone blind
Friendly face in the firing squad
In the end, it's nice to know someone at a party
I guess I mighta sounded a little crazy, maybe
I only think of things I shouldn't do
It's like a puzzle
We sing about it sometimes, always
Thought we were ready
3000 years too soon
Temporary things last forever
And nothing exists
Temporary things last forever
And nothing exists
We'll ride into the flame
If that's what it takes
We'll ride into the flame
If that's what it takes
Break down
We're not there entirely
We are free, but we're not free
See the list of silenced ones
From the grave, they sing us psalms
These are the things that I must do
They are not meant to upset you
Some might just not be ready for the truth
When you first met me
I was probably doing something crazy, baby
We're not that special, what don't you understand?
You always worry about things that just don't matter
Another puzzle I'd like to solve with you
We might like to have fun but we will ride into the flame
If that is what it takes
Or we might never know
Held the line for just one day
Standing in perfect columns still
Graves lined-up across the hill
Pistols at dawn
Aw now you done it, baby
Oh no
I shoulda figured
You always make a fuss
What, you're an expert?
You read about it somewhere?
Baby, oh
"He had it coming"
It's always something with you
Civilized, evil eyes
Seen so much, we've gone blind
Friendly face in the firing squad
In the end, it's nice to know someone at a party
I guess I mighta sounded a little crazy, maybe
I only think of things I shouldn't do
It's like a puzzle
We sing about it sometimes, always
Thought we were ready
3000 years too soon
Temporary things last forever
And nothing exists
Temporary things last forever
And nothing exists
We'll ride into the flame
If that's what it takes
We'll ride into the flame
If that's what it takes
Break down
We're not there entirely
We are free, but we're not free
See the list of silenced ones
From the grave, they sing us psalms
These are the things that I must do
They are not meant to upset you
Some might just not be ready for the truth
When you first met me
I was probably doing something crazy, baby
We're not that special, what don't you understand?
You always worry about things that just don't matter
Another puzzle I'd like to solve with you
We might like to have fun but we will ride into the flame
If that is what it takes
Or we might never know
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
Flexorcist Lyrics as written by Amir Yaghmai Alex Carapetis
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This track is about the struggle to retain one's sanity (& focus), especially in a world where outside forces may have claimed you've lost it. As the lyrics themselves state; "Seen so much, we've gone blind", - ain't that the truth!