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.
They want you dead, they want you finished
They want you signed, sealed and delivered
Sent to the grave, a flame extinguished
Another crooked soul to be relinquished
Repressed, another patient admitted
Depressed, another lie contradicted
Regress, go figure, no fucking answers
Except to save yourself at the expense of another
Contraband won't protect you
When there's a contract on your head (on your head)
So tell me why you're killing all your friends?
(Where do you go from the end?)
Contraband won't protect you
Not when the war's inside your head (on your own)
So tell me why you're killing all your friends?
(Why do you pray for the end?)
Ghost, lifeline
Will you come save me?
They want you dead, they want you finished
They want you signed, sealed and delivered
Sent to your grave, the flames extinguished
Another crooked soul to be relinquished, go
You keep telling us to die for something
And yet you fight for nothing
Ghost, lifeline
Getting help from you is a fine line
Ghost, lifeline
You could build a home with all your lies
Contraband won't protect you
When there's a contract on your head (on your head)
So tell me why you're killing all your friends?
Contraband won't protect you
Not when the war's inside your head (on your own)
So tell me why you're killing all your friends?
(Why won't you pray for the end?)
(On your own)
(On your own)
Ghost, lifeline, will you come save me?
Pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me
They want you dead (dead)
Oh, oh
Pray for the end
They want you signed, sealed and delivered
Sent to the grave, a flame extinguished
Another crooked soul to be relinquished
Repressed, another patient admitted
Depressed, another lie contradicted
Regress, go figure, no fucking answers
Except to save yourself at the expense of another
Contraband won't protect you
When there's a contract on your head (on your head)
So tell me why you're killing all your friends?
(Where do you go from the end?)
Contraband won't protect you
Not when the war's inside your head (on your own)
So tell me why you're killing all your friends?
(Why do you pray for the end?)
Ghost, lifeline
Will you come save me?
They want you dead, they want you finished
They want you signed, sealed and delivered
Sent to your grave, the flames extinguished
Another crooked soul to be relinquished, go
You keep telling us to die for something
And yet you fight for nothing
Ghost, lifeline
Getting help from you is a fine line
Ghost, lifeline
You could build a home with all your lies
Contraband won't protect you
When there's a contract on your head (on your head)
So tell me why you're killing all your friends?
Contraband won't protect you
Not when the war's inside your head (on your own)
So tell me why you're killing all your friends?
(Why won't you pray for the end?)
(On your own)
(On your own)
Ghost, lifeline, will you come save me?
Pick me, pick me, pick me, pick me
They want you dead (dead)
Oh, oh
Pray for the end
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
Contraband Lyrics as written by Nick Mclernon Drew Fulk
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song features Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox.
The band's vocalist 'Sean Harmanis' says of this track "Lyrically, the song is about everything and nothing at the same time. It's about relationships with friends and family. But it's also a low-key political song, as well as an expression of the frustrations surrounding COVID and its impact on our lives, particularly as members of the music community."