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.
Somebody told me to vote Conservative
Tragedy is not known under
This dimmest of lights
Everybody feels sick by the courtesy of dismay
Was I schooled without direction
Gold against the soul
Rock'n'roll has a conscience
It supplies convenience
Gold against
Against the soul
Against the soul
Close the pits sanctify Roy Lynk an O.B.E.
Shareholding a piece of this fucking country
Fossilize-make Yorkshire into a tourist resort
And dream of new ways to humble the poor
Gold against the soul
White liberal hates slavery
Needs Thai labor to clean his home
Gold erodes
Erodes the soul
Erodes the soul
A 1000 Marlboro deaths ignored everyday
And who gives a shit about sexuality
Gold against the soul
Working class clichés start here
Either cloth caps or smack victims
Gold destroyed
Destroyed the soul
Destroyed the soul
Tragedy is not known under
This dimmest of lights
Everybody feels sick by the courtesy of dismay
Was I schooled without direction
Gold against the soul
Rock'n'roll has a conscience
It supplies convenience
Gold against
Against the soul
Against the soul
Close the pits sanctify Roy Lynk an O.B.E.
Shareholding a piece of this fucking country
Fossilize-make Yorkshire into a tourist resort
And dream of new ways to humble the poor
Gold against the soul
White liberal hates slavery
Needs Thai labor to clean his home
Gold erodes
Erodes the soul
Erodes the soul
A 1000 Marlboro deaths ignored everyday
And who gives a shit about sexuality
Gold against the soul
Working class clichés start here
Either cloth caps or smack victims
Gold destroyed
Destroyed the soul
Destroyed the soul
Lyrics submitted by ShiverForMe
Gold Against the Soul Lyrics as written by Edwards Bradfield
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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'Rock and roll has a conscience'
Confounding line. Just them perhaps? They feel they are the only ones in society who are able to be honest, and then only in their music?