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.
In a world where we all circle the fiery sun
With a need for love
What have we become?
Tragedy flows unbound and there's no place to run
Till it's done
Questions that call to us, we all reflect upon
Where do we belong? Where do we come from?
Questions that call to us, we all reflect upon
Till it's done
Till it's done
Carbon pollution is heating up the air
Do we really know? Do we even care?
Acid rain dripping on our trees and in our hair
Are you there?
Clock ticking backwards on things we've already built
Sons and fathers die, soldiers, daughters killed
Question ain't do we have resources to rebuild
Do we have the will?
Perilous dissidence evening up the score
Do we even know what we're fighting for?
Destinies crippled and thrown about on the floor
When we're waging war
Questions that call to us, we all reflect upon
Where do we belong? Where do we come from?
Questions that call to us, we all reflect upon
Till it's done
Till it's done
With a need for love
What have we become?
Tragedy flows unbound and there's no place to run
Till it's done
Questions that call to us, we all reflect upon
Where do we belong? Where do we come from?
Questions that call to us, we all reflect upon
Till it's done
Till it's done
Carbon pollution is heating up the air
Do we really know? Do we even care?
Acid rain dripping on our trees and in our hair
Are you there?
Clock ticking backwards on things we've already built
Sons and fathers die, soldiers, daughters killed
Question ain't do we have resources to rebuild
Do we have the will?
Perilous dissidence evening up the score
Do we even know what we're fighting for?
Destinies crippled and thrown about on the floor
When we're waging war
Questions that call to us, we all reflect upon
Where do we belong? Where do we come from?
Questions that call to us, we all reflect upon
Till it's done
Till it's done
Lyrics submitted by Paul123456
Till It's Done (Tutu) Lyrics as written by Pino Palladino Kendra Foster
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone).
And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.
This song makes me so sad. :(