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 can life be what you want it to be?
You're frozen
When your heart's not open
Mmm-hmm, if I could melt your heart
Mmm-hmm, we'd never be apart
Mmm-hmm, if I could melt your heart
Mmm-hmm, we'd never be apart (sick)
Mmm-hmm, if I could melt your heart (mmm)
Mmm-hmm, we'd never be apart
Mmm-hmm, give yourself to me
Mmm-hmm, we'd never be apart (sick)
Mmm-hmm, if I could melt your heart
Mmm-hmm, we'd never be apart
Mmm-hmm, if I could melt your heart
Mmm-hmm, we'd never be apart (sick)
Mmm-hmm
You're frozen
When your heart's not open
Mmm-hmm, if I could melt your heart
Mmm-hmm, we'd never be apart
Mmm-hmm, if I could melt your heart
Mmm-hmm, we'd never be apart (sick)
Mmm-hmm, if I could melt your heart (mmm)
Mmm-hmm, we'd never be apart
Mmm-hmm, give yourself to me
Mmm-hmm, we'd never be apart (sick)
Mmm-hmm, if I could melt your heart
Mmm-hmm, we'd never be apart
Mmm-hmm, if I could melt your heart
Mmm-hmm, we'd never be apart (sick)
Mmm-hmm
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I was kind of disappointed when I listened to the whole song and found out it was about a romantic relationship, because the first verse seemed to encourage everyone (not just the singer's lover) to be more open-minded. That's what this song means to me. It's about a person who's not open-minded to people with different perspectives, and he prefers to spend his time thinking ill of others rather than getting to know more about them.
If you expand the song beyond its simple romantic meanings, it's really beautiful. I think it may be one of the deepest, most profound ones Madonna has ever done, and kind of hypnotic with its lightly pulsating techno beat. This song convinced me that Madonna actually can sing, or else she has really great acoustic enhancement equipment and technicians.
@goddesscaroline ~ WENT A LITTLE OVERBOARD THERE, NOT KNOWING THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY, WHERE SHE IS MERELY SPECULATING, & NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT\'S GOING ON, ON HIS END = THE SONG IS A MASTERPIECE, FROM THE MASTERS\' PIECE ~