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.
I was slipping through the cracks of a stolen jewel
I was tightrope walking in two ton shoes
Now somebody is talking about a third world war
And the police said this was normal control (I've been caught in a mind riot)
Candle's burning yesterday
Somebody's best friend died
And I've been caught in a mind riot (mind riot)
I was crying from my eye teeth and bleeding from my soul
And I sharpened my wits on a dead man's skull
I built an elevator from his bones
Had climb to the top floor just to stamp out the coals (I've been caught in a mind riot)
Candle's burning yesterday
Somebody's best friend died
I've been caught in a mind riot
I'm tied within
Candle's burning yesterday
Like somebody's best friend died
I've been caught in a mind riot
I'm tied within
I'm luck's last match struck
In the pouring down wind, pouring down wind
(Mind riot)
I was tightrope walking in two ton shoes
Now somebody is talking about a third world war
And the police said this was normal control (I've been caught in a mind riot)
Candle's burning yesterday
Somebody's best friend died
And I've been caught in a mind riot (mind riot)
I was crying from my eye teeth and bleeding from my soul
And I sharpened my wits on a dead man's skull
I built an elevator from his bones
Had climb to the top floor just to stamp out the coals (I've been caught in a mind riot)
Candle's burning yesterday
Somebody's best friend died
I've been caught in a mind riot
I'm tied within
Candle's burning yesterday
Like somebody's best friend died
I've been caught in a mind riot
I'm tied within
I'm luck's last match struck
In the pouring down wind, pouring down wind
(Mind riot)
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"Candles burning yesterday, Somebodies best friend died" The somebody is chris and hes obviously not had anyone he knows or loves die before so for once that somebody is actually him, and hes doesnt know what to think or do with himself, hence "Mind Riot"