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.
Hello! Hooray!
let the show begin
I've been ready
Hello! Hooray!
let the lights grow dim
I've been ready
Ready as this audience that's coming here to dream
Loving every second, every moment, every scream
I've been waiting so long to sing my song
And I've been waiting so long for this thing to come
And I've been thinking so long I was the only one
Roll out
Roll out with your American dream and its recruits
I've been ready
Roll out
Roll out with your circus freaks and hula hoops
I've been ready
Ready as this audience that's coming here to dream
Loving every second, every moment, every scream
I've been waiting so long to sing my song
And I've been waiting so long for this thing to come
Oh, I've been thinking so long I was the only one
And I can stand here strong and thin
And I can laugh when this thing begins
God, I feel so strong
I feel so strong
I'm so strong
I feel so strong
I feel so strong
So strong
God, I feel so strong
I am so strong, so strong
I feel so strong
I feel so strong
I feel so strong
I feel so strong
I feel so strong
Yes I'm strong
Yes I'm strong
Yes I'm strong
let the show begin
I've been ready
Hello! Hooray!
let the lights grow dim
I've been ready
Ready as this audience that's coming here to dream
Loving every second, every moment, every scream
I've been waiting so long to sing my song
And I've been waiting so long for this thing to come
And I've been thinking so long I was the only one
Roll out
Roll out with your American dream and its recruits
I've been ready
Roll out
Roll out with your circus freaks and hula hoops
I've been ready
Ready as this audience that's coming here to dream
Loving every second, every moment, every scream
I've been waiting so long to sing my song
And I've been waiting so long for this thing to come
Oh, I've been thinking so long I was the only one
And I can stand here strong and thin
And I can laugh when this thing begins
God, I feel so strong
I feel so strong
I'm so strong
I feel so strong
I feel so strong
So strong
God, I feel so strong
I am so strong, so strong
I feel so strong
I feel so strong
I feel so strong
I feel so strong
I feel so strong
Yes I'm strong
Yes I'm strong
Yes I'm strong
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
It could also be equating a concert to a circus.