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.
'Scuse me
I apologize
He likes your attitude
He tries it on for size
He spends the afternoon
Between your thighs
How's that for gratitude
I apologize
It seemed to last for hours
It seemed to last for days
This lady of the flowers
And her hypnotic gaze
'Scuse me
I apologize
She's got vacuum cleaner eyes
That Sucks You In
She's got magazines
Filled with pear pies
'Scuse me
I apologize
It seemed to last for hours
It seemed to last for days
This lady of the flowers
And her hypnotic gaze
She wears her tears on her blouse
Confused and racked with self-doubt
She stole the keys to my house
And then she locked herself out
'Scuse me
I apologize
He likes your attitude
He tries it on for size
He spends the afternoon
Between your thighs
How's that for gratitude
I apologize
It seemed to last for hours
It seemed to last for days
This lady of the flowers
Her electronic haze
She wears her tears on her blouse
Confused and racked with self doubt
She stole the keys to my house
And then she locked herself out
She stole the keys to my house
And then she locked herself out
She lays me down
She lays me
I apologize
He likes your attitude
He tries it on for size
He spends the afternoon
Between your thighs
How's that for gratitude
I apologize
It seemed to last for hours
It seemed to last for days
This lady of the flowers
And her hypnotic gaze
'Scuse me
I apologize
She's got vacuum cleaner eyes
That Sucks You In
She's got magazines
Filled with pear pies
'Scuse me
I apologize
It seemed to last for hours
It seemed to last for days
This lady of the flowers
And her hypnotic gaze
She wears her tears on her blouse
Confused and racked with self-doubt
She stole the keys to my house
And then she locked herself out
'Scuse me
I apologize
He likes your attitude
He tries it on for size
He spends the afternoon
Between your thighs
How's that for gratitude
I apologize
It seemed to last for hours
It seemed to last for days
This lady of the flowers
Her electronic haze
She wears her tears on her blouse
Confused and racked with self doubt
She stole the keys to my house
And then she locked herself out
She stole the keys to my house
And then she locked herself out
She lays me down
She lays me
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A bit of input..."Our Lady Of The Flowers" was a book by Jean Genet (the Jean Genie!)