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.
I’d like to push away
That virus in me
Let’s get into a brutal therapy
We're not to blame
It’s pulled from me
That’s why it cannot be the same
Diving into the dirt
It leads to hurt
But a fire grows in us
We’re losing our memories
It feels unclear
We’re becoming fear
It’s time to choose a path
This burden won't last
Let’s find a way to get across the line
So tell yourself it’s over
Turn around and hold the flame
I say it’s done
Stop wasting time
Feels like we’ll never be the same
Diving into the dirt
It leads to hurt
But a fire grows in us
We’re losing our memories
It feels unclear
We’re becoming fear
So tell yourself
You’re becoming fear
A step that I take
There’s nothing to regret as we are all awake
Go
Step up
We’re all awake
We’re not afraid
We are the force born from agony
Rise
Diving into the dirt
It leads to hurt
But a fire grows in us
We’re losing our memories
It feels unclear
We’re becoming fear
So tell yourself
(There's nothing left)
You’re becoming fear
Rise
That virus in me
Let’s get into a brutal therapy
We're not to blame
It’s pulled from me
That’s why it cannot be the same
Diving into the dirt
It leads to hurt
But a fire grows in us
We’re losing our memories
It feels unclear
We’re becoming fear
It’s time to choose a path
This burden won't last
Let’s find a way to get across the line
So tell yourself it’s over
Turn around and hold the flame
I say it’s done
Stop wasting time
Feels like we’ll never be the same
Diving into the dirt
It leads to hurt
But a fire grows in us
We’re losing our memories
It feels unclear
We’re becoming fear
So tell yourself
You’re becoming fear
A step that I take
There’s nothing to regret as we are all awake
Go
Step up
We’re all awake
We’re not afraid
We are the force born from agony
Rise
Diving into the dirt
It leads to hurt
But a fire grows in us
We’re losing our memories
It feels unclear
We’re becoming fear
So tell yourself
(There's nothing left)
You’re becoming fear
Rise
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
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I think this is about the struggle to take back our lives & to return to some as-semblance of normalcy in the wake of the pandemic and how it has no doubt irrevocably changed our world as we know it. (my interpretation)
Just wanted to add, that the band 'Heartlay' themselves replied to me on youtube when I posted this exact interpretation under the song's official video and they highlighted my comment & clicked the heart so showed it some love :) so cool... then they added this themselves -
"It is about taking back our lives in a global sense, the whole album is actually flying around the topics of psychological healing and self-realization. Yet it can be interpreted in different manners. Thanks for your comment."