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.
Seems like yesterday we were sixteen
We were the rebels of the rebel scene
He wore Doc Martens in the sun
Drinking vintage cider having fun
We were drinking vintage cider having fun
It wasn't often, that we'd fight at all
It wasn't often
It wasn't often, that we'd fight at all
It wasn't often
We wore Doc Martens in the snow
(We will never go)
Paint our toe-nails black and let our hair grow
(We will never grow)
What I am now's what I was then
(We will never know)
I am not more acceptable than them
But, I am not more acceptable than them
It wasn't often, that we'd fight at all
It wasn't often
It wasn't often, that we'd fight at all
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
Seems like yesterday we were sixteen
We were the rebels of the rebel scene
We were the rebels of the rebel scene
He wore Doc Martens in the sun
Drinking vintage cider having fun
We were drinking vintage cider having fun
It wasn't often, that we'd fight at all
It wasn't often
It wasn't often, that we'd fight at all
It wasn't often
We wore Doc Martens in the snow
(We will never go)
Paint our toe-nails black and let our hair grow
(We will never grow)
What I am now's what I was then
(We will never know)
I am not more acceptable than them
But, I am not more acceptable than them
It wasn't often, that we'd fight at all
It wasn't often
It wasn't often, that we'd fight at all
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
It wasn't often
Seems like yesterday we were sixteen
We were the rebels of the rebel scene
Lyrics submitted by 3ssence, edited by The Withered Grave
The Rebels Lyrics as written by Dolores Mary O'riordan
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think @calysto really captures the spirit of the song. Doc Martens were quite popular when I was growing up, and I can really picture scenes in my youth of people that were like what they describe in the song. The whole musical undertone of the song just perfectly captures that emotion of trying to recapture your youth / innocence.