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.
When your range is off
When you call that complete
Your finished task was a burden
I'll give you that to concede
If you wear a mask
If you wear a badge
If you're lost in the curtains of time
You'll be erased
Sleep tight, gold night
Protect my brain
I was bright, I was right
All the time
If you ever need to talk
I won't be around
If you ever need to fight for life
I'll make no sound
I completed your task
It was much too tough
Your burdens now were twice removed
It must be rough
I use my golden light to find a way
Your bones they were always, they were always in my way
The fire finds a way to completely erase
I followed you out
You threw up and you complained
And I bide my time, and I hide my glory away
In the basement room where you used to kneel and pray
If you need a friend now
Better look some place else
You burned this bridge long ago
Here's to your health
I'm a blue light, I'm a crippled coward
Shining out in the night
The sky is clearer now that I'm filled with fright
When you call that complete
Your finished task was a burden
I'll give you that to concede
If you wear a mask
If you wear a badge
If you're lost in the curtains of time
You'll be erased
Sleep tight, gold night
Protect my brain
I was bright, I was right
All the time
If you ever need to talk
I won't be around
If you ever need to fight for life
I'll make no sound
I completed your task
It was much too tough
Your burdens now were twice removed
It must be rough
I use my golden light to find a way
Your bones they were always, they were always in my way
The fire finds a way to completely erase
I followed you out
You threw up and you complained
And I bide my time, and I hide my glory away
In the basement room where you used to kneel and pray
If you need a friend now
Better look some place else
You burned this bridge long ago
Here's to your health
I'm a blue light, I'm a crippled coward
Shining out in the night
The sky is clearer now that I'm filled with fright
Lyrics submitted by TheWrongGirl, edited by Spiderland
Blue Agent Lyrics as written by Bradford Cox
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I could definitely use some help w/ this one...