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.
Higher
You think your life is over now
It's nothing but a bad, bad dream
Afraid to lose it all somehow
And you don't know what it means
There's no telling how it all will end up now
But you can't quit now
When you gonna feel it don't hold it back inside
If you wanna take it higher
You will set your mind on fire
When the heart is burning and you feel like turning, light up, light it up
If you wanna take it higher
You will set your mind on fire
Drowning your devotion deeper than the ocean, light up, light it up
And take it
And take it
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
You think your life's a waste of time
Tick tock then you fall behind
Try to live while you're alive
Nothing is holding you down
There's no given how we all should live our lives
But you can't quit now when you're gonna feel it just keep the dream alive
If you wanna take it higher
You will set your mind on fire
When the heart is burning and you feel like turning, light up, light up
If you wanna take it higher
You will set your mind on fire
Drowning your devotion deeper than the ocean, light up, light up
And take it
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
There is something else, always on your mind always on the line this life
It's not always what you want it to be
But you, got what it takes
There's a voice in your head sayin' it's just pretend
There's a choice and it's all up to you, where you go
You think your life is over now
It's nothing but a bad, bad dream
Afraid to lose it all somehow
And you don't know what it means
There's no telling how it all will end up now
But you can't quit now
When you gonna feel it don't hold it back inside
If you wanna take it higher
You will set your mind on fire
When the heart is burning and you feel like turning, light up, light it up
If you wanna take it higher
You will set your mind on fire
Drowning your devotion deeper than the ocean, light up, light it up
And take it
And take it
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
You think your life's a waste of time
Tick tock then you fall behind
Try to live while you're alive
Nothing is holding you down
There's no given how we all should live our lives
But you can't quit now when you're gonna feel it just keep the dream alive
If you wanna take it higher
You will set your mind on fire
When the heart is burning and you feel like turning, light up, light up
If you wanna take it higher
You will set your mind on fire
Drowning your devotion deeper than the ocean, light up, light up
And take it
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
Take it higher
There is something else, always on your mind always on the line this life
It's not always what you want it to be
But you, got what it takes
There's a voice in your head sayin' it's just pretend
There's a choice and it's all up to you, where you go
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
Higher Lyrics as written by Jesper Lindberg Benjamin Jennebo
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this is about staying positive no matter how much crap you endure in your life. You have the power to change your circumstances, once you fully grasp that reality then the skies the limit.