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.
Asleep or real, was I ever really here?
These memories are mine, I fear
Pick it up, with own hands
It's with dust we try to build a land
Once again throw my body into
A wall full of wild roses
City enigma, city enigma, city enigma
I'm out here in the open
The more I have the less my body feels
Hiding on the ocean, frozen
This is how frustration feels
Can I swim through tides of changes?
Can I swim through tides of changes?
I could use the rest of me
A burr builds up inside my throat
Move along with no fear
In memories they appear
I'm out here in the open
The more I have the less my body feels
Hiding on the ocean, frozen
This is how frustration feels
Can I swim through tides of changes?
Can I swim through tides of changes?
Pull it back
A pale heart built up by dissonance
I grew up around scars
Silence brought, silence brought these scars
I found peace in the storm
I found rest, I found rest in its warmth
I'm out here in the open
The more I have the less my body feels
Hiding on the ocean, frozen
This is how frustration feels
Can I swim through tides of changes?
Can I swim through tides of changes?
We are out here
Tracing steps near
In the river light
Run away from fear
We are out here
Tracing steps near
In the river light
Run away from fear
We are out here
Tracing steps near
In the river light
Sorry to those who entered my mind
Shared my eyes
Sorry to those who entered my mind
Shared my eyes
These memories are mine, I fear
Pick it up, with own hands
It's with dust we try to build a land
Once again throw my body into
A wall full of wild roses
City enigma, city enigma, city enigma
I'm out here in the open
The more I have the less my body feels
Hiding on the ocean, frozen
This is how frustration feels
Can I swim through tides of changes?
Can I swim through tides of changes?
I could use the rest of me
A burr builds up inside my throat
Move along with no fear
In memories they appear
I'm out here in the open
The more I have the less my body feels
Hiding on the ocean, frozen
This is how frustration feels
Can I swim through tides of changes?
Can I swim through tides of changes?
Pull it back
A pale heart built up by dissonance
I grew up around scars
Silence brought, silence brought these scars
I found peace in the storm
I found rest, I found rest in its warmth
I'm out here in the open
The more I have the less my body feels
Hiding on the ocean, frozen
This is how frustration feels
Can I swim through tides of changes?
Can I swim through tides of changes?
We are out here
Tracing steps near
In the river light
Run away from fear
We are out here
Tracing steps near
In the river light
Run away from fear
We are out here
Tracing steps near
In the river light
Sorry to those who entered my mind
Shared my eyes
Sorry to those who entered my mind
Shared my eyes
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
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Frontman Johan Pedersen says of this track; “‘Water’ is about loneliness – a general feeling of being on the outside looking in which I’ve felt a lot and I think is quite common. It’s affected my relations throughout my life, which is something I feel both hit by and responsible for, which is why the lyrics on this track are a bit of an apology to those close to me – basically trying to explain where I’m coming from while realizing that it’s part of my personality which I can’t do much about.”