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.
Little Mary was five years old
Her parents left her, she was out in the cold
Alone to live and find her way
In this great world of heartache and pain
Eyes of brown, matted locks of gold
Her flowered dress is tattered and soiled
Tear stained cheeks, her feet cold and bare
Who could have left a child so rare
Rosemary your day will come
He loved you so He gave His only son
Keep the faith in your soul
Stay down on your knees
I'm begging you please
Hold onto the beads at your heart
A burning heart and tired eyes
Howling winds for lullabys
No one there to soothe her fright
Nowhere to turn but the inward light
Because life is for believing
That your heart can turn to gold
All you need is Christ to receive it
There's eternal life for every soul
Rosemary your day will come
He loved you so He gave His only son
Keep the faith in your soul
Stay down on your knees
I'm begging you please
Hold onto the beads at your heart
Rosemary, Rosemary
He loves you
He needs you
He wants you
So don't let him down
Singing
Rosemary your day will come
He loved you so He gave His only son
Keep the faith in your soul
Stay down on your knees
I'm begging you please
Hold onto the beads at your heart
Yeah yeah,
Rosemary, singing, Rosemary
Rosemary
Rosemary, come on now yeah
Got to keep the faith yeah
Keep the faith
Her parents left her, she was out in the cold
Alone to live and find her way
In this great world of heartache and pain
Eyes of brown, matted locks of gold
Her flowered dress is tattered and soiled
Tear stained cheeks, her feet cold and bare
Who could have left a child so rare
Rosemary your day will come
He loved you so He gave His only son
Keep the faith in your soul
Stay down on your knees
I'm begging you please
Hold onto the beads at your heart
A burning heart and tired eyes
Howling winds for lullabys
No one there to soothe her fright
Nowhere to turn but the inward light
Because life is for believing
That your heart can turn to gold
All you need is Christ to receive it
There's eternal life for every soul
Rosemary your day will come
He loved you so He gave His only son
Keep the faith in your soul
Stay down on your knees
I'm begging you please
Hold onto the beads at your heart
Rosemary, Rosemary
He loves you
He needs you
He wants you
So don't let him down
Singing
Rosemary your day will come
He loved you so He gave His only son
Keep the faith in your soul
Stay down on your knees
I'm begging you please
Hold onto the beads at your heart
Yeah yeah,
Rosemary, singing, Rosemary
Rosemary
Rosemary, come on now yeah
Got to keep the faith yeah
Keep the faith
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Rosemary Lyrics as written by Lisa M. Bonet Lenny Kravitz
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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How Jesus 'saved' some small, abandoned kid called Rosemary... the 'beads in your heart' are clearly a reference to rosary beads.