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.
He waits for her to understand
But she won't understand at all
She waits all night for him to call
But he won't call anymore
He waits to hear her say
Forgive
But she just drops her pearl-black eyes
And prays to hear him say
I love you
But he tells no more lies
He waits for her to sympathize
But she won't sympathize at all
She waits all night to feel his kiss
But always wakes alone
He waits to hear her say
Forget
But she just hangs her head in pain
And prays to hear him say
No more
I'll never leave again
How did we get this far apart?
We used to be so close together
How did we get this far apart?
I thought this love would last forever
He waits for her to understand
But she won't understand at all
She waits all night for him to call
But we won't call
He waits to hear her say
Forgive
But she just drops her pearl-black eyes
And prays to hear him say
I love you
But he tells no more lies
How did we get this far apart?
We used to be so close together
How did we get this far apart?
I thought this love would last forever
But she won't understand at all
She waits all night for him to call
But he won't call anymore
He waits to hear her say
Forgive
But she just drops her pearl-black eyes
And prays to hear him say
I love you
But he tells no more lies
He waits for her to sympathize
But she won't sympathize at all
She waits all night to feel his kiss
But always wakes alone
He waits to hear her say
Forget
But she just hangs her head in pain
And prays to hear him say
No more
I'll never leave again
How did we get this far apart?
We used to be so close together
How did we get this far apart?
I thought this love would last forever
He waits for her to understand
But she won't understand at all
She waits all night for him to call
But we won't call
He waits to hear her say
Forgive
But she just drops her pearl-black eyes
And prays to hear him say
I love you
But he tells no more lies
How did we get this far apart?
We used to be so close together
How did we get this far apart?
I thought this love would last forever
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This song speaks simply and powerfully about the way communication breaks down between two people who were in loving but are drifting apart - they each wish the other to do something or say something they desperately want to hear, but they don't tell each other what that thing is...they just wait and hope it happens, but it never does. The almost telepathic communication of young intense love has gone, and they haven't learnt to bridge the gap. After 21 years of marriage, I can feel it happening all the time, the silences, the expectations that come to nought, the hope of love returning slowly dying...