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.
If it's a temporary lull
Why'm I bored right outta my skull?
Man, I'm dressin' sharp an' feelin' dull
Lonely, I guess that's where I'm from
If I was from Canada
Then I'd best be called lonesome
And if it's just a game
Then I'll break down just in case
Oh yeah, we're runnin' in our last race
Well, I laughed half the way to Tokyo
I dreamt I was Surfer Joe
An' what that means, I don't know
A dream too tired to come true
Left a rebel without a clue
And I'm searching for somethin' to do
And if it's just a game
Then we'll hold hands just the same
So what, we're bleeding but we ain't cut
And I could purge my soul perhaps
For the imminent collapse
Oh yeah, I'll tell you what we could do
You be me for a while
I'll be you
A dream too tired to get to
Left a rebel without a clue
Won't you tell me what I should do?
Oh if it's just a lull
Why'm I bored right outta my skull?
Oh yeah, keep me from feeling so dull
And if it's just a game
Then we'll break down just in case
Then again, I'll tell you what we could do
You be me for a while
You be me for a while
And I'll be you
Why'm I bored right outta my skull?
Man, I'm dressin' sharp an' feelin' dull
Lonely, I guess that's where I'm from
If I was from Canada
Then I'd best be called lonesome
And if it's just a game
Then I'll break down just in case
Oh yeah, we're runnin' in our last race
Well, I laughed half the way to Tokyo
I dreamt I was Surfer Joe
An' what that means, I don't know
A dream too tired to come true
Left a rebel without a clue
And I'm searching for somethin' to do
And if it's just a game
Then we'll hold hands just the same
So what, we're bleeding but we ain't cut
And I could purge my soul perhaps
For the imminent collapse
Oh yeah, I'll tell you what we could do
You be me for a while
I'll be you
A dream too tired to get to
Left a rebel without a clue
Won't you tell me what I should do?
Oh if it's just a lull
Why'm I bored right outta my skull?
Oh yeah, keep me from feeling so dull
And if it's just a game
Then we'll break down just in case
Then again, I'll tell you what we could do
You be me for a while
You be me for a while
And I'll be you
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No, the Goo Goo Dolls wish they were the Replacements.