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.
How could that happen?
How could that happen again?
Where the fuck was I looking
When all his horses came in?
And he built a whole army
Of kamikaze
Ten thousand willing
Pilots flying
Interfacing
Space and beyond
Built an army
To come and find me
Beyond all reason
Beyond all my hopes
The call of duty
Another war zone
Makes me moan
Kamikaze
Kamikaze
You can't touch me
Kamikaze
Eight miles high
He walks his path
And I follow mine
One tooth for one eye
He's come to find me
Ten thousand willing
Pilots flying
Interfacing
Space and beyond
Here is his army
Space and here we come
Kamikaze
Kamikaze
You don't touch me
Kamikaze
Kamikaze
You don't touch me
Kamikaze
You don't touch me
Space here we come
How could that happen again?
Where the fuck was I looking
When all his horses came in?
And he built a whole army
Of kamikaze
Ten thousand willing
Pilots flying
Interfacing
Space and beyond
Built an army
To come and find me
Beyond all reason
Beyond all my hopes
The call of duty
Another war zone
Makes me moan
Kamikaze
Kamikaze
You can't touch me
Kamikaze
Eight miles high
He walks his path
And I follow mine
One tooth for one eye
He's come to find me
Ten thousand willing
Pilots flying
Interfacing
Space and beyond
Here is his army
Space and here we come
Kamikaze
Kamikaze
You don't touch me
Kamikaze
Kamikaze
You don't touch me
Kamikaze
You don't touch me
Space here we come
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Or rather one interpretation... I couldn't find any sources that made an explicit link except somehow I got onto the concept of "kamikaze sperm" and boom -- there is a narrative here! That panicky but "i can handle this" pace in music and lyrics (how could this happen, they found me with an army (the egg), you don't touch me.. beyond all reason, time etc etc). It all makes sense. I love this song regardless and I'm not saying this has to be about a condom breaking or the guy stealthing, or the morning after pill or abortion or anything else super specific. Maybe it has nothing to do with kamikaze sperm and fertilization (one eye, one tooth - need one sperm to "bite in" and penetrate out of an army of thousands). It does fit well though, better than 9/11 (which had not happened yet) or actual kamikaze pilots and is no worse than psychological analogies to the latter. I'm not even saying this is the intended meaning - but it works at multiple levels and even if it's relatable only to some (or just me!) I'm excited, after so many years of listening and loving this song, to have uncovered a new narrative that fits the lyrics and the music both!! :))
@blackaliss could be also perspective of sperm of one man who gets there to find all these other "kamikaze" sperms there blocking its way. Less likely considering the perspective the narrative takes (found me, you can't touch me etc) fits the egg better.. I don't think it's necessary to take the part about kamikaze sperm so literally anyway - might've been a way to veil the nature of the army being mentioned , whilst making an indirect reference.