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.
The weight came and went and took my will to live
Spoiled by defeat, forced to drown in what's left of me
That's when breathing became routine
And I could feel myself fading
I am stranded
No direction, I am a compass
Constantly spinning
Constantly searching for the end
Never reaching our destination
But the goal was never when
Or where
Or who
It was only you
I appeared in your arms as if I had been born there
You promised you'd never let me go
But I don't know what I believe anymore (what to believe anymore)
Affection allowed me to let the light in
The fear made me whole again
Help me rebuild my broken bones
Help me regain my sanity
But with caution always present
Our pasts manifest themselves
And we act as if this is what we deserve
But I refuse to fail again
I'd force my ghost to write your name in the flowers on my grave
I watched the world give up on me
I used to spend my nights, praying for air in my bloodstream
Now I long to feel your breath pass through my arteries
The goal was never when
Or where
Or who
It was only you
I appeared in your arms as if I had been born there
You promised you'd never let me go
But I don't know what I believe anymore (what to believe anymore)
Fill me with your faith and let me leave
I'm scratching at my skin to take my mind
Off the absence we've created
The lines blur together like the veins in my arms
And I wish I wasn't so alone
You are the difference between hell and home
Spoiled by defeat, forced to drown in what's left of me
That's when breathing became routine
And I could feel myself fading
I am stranded
No direction, I am a compass
Constantly spinning
Constantly searching for the end
Never reaching our destination
But the goal was never when
Or where
Or who
It was only you
I appeared in your arms as if I had been born there
You promised you'd never let me go
But I don't know what I believe anymore (what to believe anymore)
Affection allowed me to let the light in
The fear made me whole again
Help me rebuild my broken bones
Help me regain my sanity
But with caution always present
Our pasts manifest themselves
And we act as if this is what we deserve
But I refuse to fail again
I'd force my ghost to write your name in the flowers on my grave
I watched the world give up on me
I used to spend my nights, praying for air in my bloodstream
Now I long to feel your breath pass through my arteries
The goal was never when
Or where
Or who
It was only you
I appeared in your arms as if I had been born there
You promised you'd never let me go
But I don't know what I believe anymore (what to believe anymore)
Fill me with your faith and let me leave
I'm scratching at my skin to take my mind
Off the absence we've created
The lines blur together like the veins in my arms
And I wish I wasn't so alone
You are the difference between hell and home
Lyrics submitted by klossalex, edited by realcompass
Compass Lyrics as written by Brendan Murphy Alexander John Re
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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