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.
Now I would like friends if this evening
We should stand there with all other of god's creatures on the curbstone
And watch this march of time
Let us take our stand with them
And as we stand there I here one of them whispering
He is a Hebrew sage
He says "vanity of vanities the whole thing is a vain parade
It has no meaning"
The hand of god lays high above me
I'll be good if you really love me
Let me feel your mighty crunch
As you rub me out like water, fire, coal, etc
Let it be known today, if you got two hands? You're supposed to pray
Fingers of fire, coal, and lead
Fondly love me 'til I'm dead
The hand of god is thick and callous
Bruised and torn from stones and sticks
The hand of god has got a ring about the size of Texas
Made of sweet, smelly stuff
My fingers never smell
Let me try on your hand and see if it fits don't worry I won't touch anything unholy with it
Let it be known today, if you got two hands you're supposed to pray
We should stand there with all other of god's creatures on the curbstone
And watch this march of time
Let us take our stand with them
And as we stand there I here one of them whispering
He is a Hebrew sage
He says "vanity of vanities the whole thing is a vain parade
It has no meaning"
The hand of god lays high above me
I'll be good if you really love me
Let me feel your mighty crunch
As you rub me out like water, fire, coal, etc
Let it be known today, if you got two hands? You're supposed to pray
Fingers of fire, coal, and lead
Fondly love me 'til I'm dead
The hand of god is thick and callous
Bruised and torn from stones and sticks
The hand of god has got a ring about the size of Texas
Made of sweet, smelly stuff
My fingers never smell
Let me try on your hand and see if it fits don't worry I won't touch anything unholy with it
Let it be known today, if you got two hands you're supposed to pray
Lyrics submitted by Nelly, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Hand Of God Lyrics as written by Kim A. Thayil Christopher J. Cornell
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is obviously about religious hypocrites.
Was it not religious hypocrites that handed Jesus over to the Roman Empire for execution?
"The hand of God has a ring about the size of Texas..."
Does God wear rings? No.
But do people...?