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.
There's a black cloud overhead that's me
And the poison ivy chokes the tree again it's me
I'm the filthy one on bourbon street you walk on by
I'm the little boy that pushes hard and makes it cry
There's a dirty needle in your child ha ha stick me
Empty bottles still in hand still dead still me
I'm the suit and tie that breaks the street and still wants more
I'm the 45 that's in your mouth I'm a dirty, dirty whore, yeah
Look, it's me
The one who can't be free
Much too young to focus but too old to see
Hey look it's me
When no one wants to see
See what you brought this world just what you want to see
Hey ma, hey ma, look it's me
Yeah he wants to become father now me again, me
The marks inside your arms still leaves me alone to me
I'm the nothing face that plants a bomb and strolls away
I'm the one who doesn't look quite right as children play
Yeah, look it's me
The one who can't be free
Much too young to focus but too old to see
Hey look it's me
When no one wants to see
See what you brought this world just what you want to see
Hey ma, hey ma, look it's me
It's me
Look up to me
What you've been and what you've feared
Look up to me look it's me, what you hear
See right through me see the one who can't be free
See right through me look it's me when no one wants to see
Hey, hey, hey
Hm, now see the black cloud overhead that's me
Hm, in this poison ivy chokes the tree again it's me
And I'm the filthy one on bourbon street you walk on by
And I'm the little boy that pushes, pushes makes it cry
Yeah look it's me
The one who can't be free
Much too young to focus but too old to see hey, hey
Look it's me
When no one wants to see
See what you brought this world just what you want to see
Hey ma, hey ma, look it's me yeah
It's me
Hey ma, hey ma, look it's me
See right though me look up to me
See right though me look up to me
And the poison ivy chokes the tree again it's me
I'm the filthy one on bourbon street you walk on by
I'm the little boy that pushes hard and makes it cry
There's a dirty needle in your child ha ha stick me
Empty bottles still in hand still dead still me
I'm the suit and tie that breaks the street and still wants more
I'm the 45 that's in your mouth I'm a dirty, dirty whore, yeah
Look, it's me
The one who can't be free
Much too young to focus but too old to see
Hey look it's me
When no one wants to see
See what you brought this world just what you want to see
Hey ma, hey ma, look it's me
Yeah he wants to become father now me again, me
The marks inside your arms still leaves me alone to me
I'm the nothing face that plants a bomb and strolls away
I'm the one who doesn't look quite right as children play
Yeah, look it's me
The one who can't be free
Much too young to focus but too old to see
Hey look it's me
When no one wants to see
See what you brought this world just what you want to see
Hey ma, hey ma, look it's me
It's me
Look up to me
What you've been and what you've feared
Look up to me look it's me, what you hear
See right through me see the one who can't be free
See right through me look it's me when no one wants to see
Hey, hey, hey
Hm, now see the black cloud overhead that's me
Hm, in this poison ivy chokes the tree again it's me
And I'm the filthy one on bourbon street you walk on by
And I'm the little boy that pushes, pushes makes it cry
Yeah look it's me
The one who can't be free
Much too young to focus but too old to see hey, hey
Look it's me
When no one wants to see
See what you brought this world just what you want to see
Hey ma, hey ma, look it's me yeah
It's me
Hey ma, hey ma, look it's me
See right though me look up to me
See right though me look up to me
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How about if you're going to believe in god then god is the cause of all evil. Save your praise for something real.