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.
She's taking me places
I should never have been
She's showin' me faces
I should never have seen
Well these are strange days we're livin' in today
Cést la vie I say
I hope I'm old before I die
I hope I live to relive the days gone by
I hope I'm old before I die
But tonight I'm gonna live for today
So come along for the ride
I hope I'm old before I die
She's not feeling stable
She's unable to breathe
Her heart's beating faster
So I'll ask her to leave
These are strange days we're livin' in today
Am I straight or gay
I hope I'm old before I die
I hope I live to see the day
The pope gets high
I hope I'm old before I die
Well tonight I'm gonna live for today
So come along for the ride
I hope I'm old before I die
Well these are strange days we're livin' in today
Cést la vie I say, I say, I say
I hope I'm old before I die
I hope I live to relive the days gone by
I hope I'm old before I die
But tonight I'm gonna live for today
So come along for the ride
I hope I'm old before I die
Old before I die
Old before
Old before
Old before I die
Old before I die
I should never have been
She's showin' me faces
I should never have seen
Well these are strange days we're livin' in today
Cést la vie I say
I hope I'm old before I die
I hope I live to relive the days gone by
I hope I'm old before I die
But tonight I'm gonna live for today
So come along for the ride
I hope I'm old before I die
She's not feeling stable
She's unable to breathe
Her heart's beating faster
So I'll ask her to leave
These are strange days we're livin' in today
Am I straight or gay
I hope I'm old before I die
I hope I live to see the day
The pope gets high
I hope I'm old before I die
Well tonight I'm gonna live for today
So come along for the ride
I hope I'm old before I die
Well these are strange days we're livin' in today
Cést la vie I say, I say, I say
I hope I'm old before I die
I hope I live to relive the days gone by
I hope I'm old before I die
But tonight I'm gonna live for today
So come along for the ride
I hope I'm old before I die
Old before I die
Old before
Old before
Old before I die
Old before I die
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I'm thinking of the line "Hope I die before I get old" from "My Generation" by the Who. He's basically saying "Forget that that noise. If I do that, I'll miss too much."