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.
Will I ever be Olympia?
Will I ever be a girl like her?
Will I ever have to say the word
And instantly I'll be adored?
Could I ever deign to have the look
Instead of have to read a book?
Will I ever be Olympia?
Will I ever be a girl like her?
And if ever there's a will
There's a place in Notting Hill
You can go and visit still
And if ever there's a way
To find a hopeful ray
Will I find it all today?
Will I ever be Olympia?
Could I ever have a cat like her?
Could I ever lie around all day eating chocolate and marmalade?
Now it's time to find the perfect world
Dress myself up like the perfect girl
Could I ever be Olympia?
Could I ever be in love like her?
In chaos of our lives
Can we ever find the time
To cherish feeling fine
And in the aftermath of pain
Can the balance be regained?
Can we ever be the same?
And now, time to switch off
Sit down, turn the lights off
Lie back, treat this sofa like your own
Look out, here comes trouble
Look out, we're in a muddle
Keep running 'til you find you've reached your home
Could I ever be Olympia?
In the chaos of our lives
Can we ever find the time
To cherish feeling fine
And in the aftermath of pain
Can the balance be regained?
Can we ever be the same?
And now, time to switch off.
Will I ever be a girl like her?
Will I ever have to say the word
And instantly I'll be adored?
Could I ever deign to have the look
Instead of have to read a book?
Will I ever be Olympia?
Will I ever be a girl like her?
And if ever there's a will
There's a place in Notting Hill
You can go and visit still
And if ever there's a way
To find a hopeful ray
Will I find it all today?
Will I ever be Olympia?
Could I ever have a cat like her?
Could I ever lie around all day eating chocolate and marmalade?
Now it's time to find the perfect world
Dress myself up like the perfect girl
Could I ever be Olympia?
Could I ever be in love like her?
In chaos of our lives
Can we ever find the time
To cherish feeling fine
And in the aftermath of pain
Can the balance be regained?
Can we ever be the same?
And now, time to switch off
Sit down, turn the lights off
Lie back, treat this sofa like your own
Look out, here comes trouble
Look out, we're in a muddle
Keep running 'til you find you've reached your home
Could I ever be Olympia?
In the chaos of our lives
Can we ever find the time
To cherish feeling fine
And in the aftermath of pain
Can the balance be regained?
Can we ever be the same?
And now, time to switch off.
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Olympia here is the feminine ideal, The singer is somewhat frustrated that she has to give the veneer of being the ideal woman when she's not. She sees the ideal as being unrealistic, but to get along in our world, she has to cultivate a veneer of being the ideal.