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.
As our standards fall.
Belief and faith dies.
It's made it's mark.
Now we wander into our final our.
Wars.
Faith.
Failing methods fill the days.
Undermine life.
Baneful steps that conjure hate.
Claiming our lives.
Balance fades with every day.
A growing cloud.
Simple lessons show the way.
Fall into void.
We stopped listening.
Followed our nature.
Bound by hatred our lives grow torn.
Finding new ways to betray.
Claiming the weak.
Boundaries crossed with no remorse.
Killing ourselves.
Forcing dogma overthrown.
A new standard waits.
Credence in all but one.
Our own kind.
Are you listening?
Now can you feel me?
Now are you listening?
Now can you feel me?
Take one look at our battered existence.
This persists in unity as every culture burns and segregates.
Wars!
Shattered our lives grow torn.
Who will save you?
Our demise.
Stand up it's time to face your day.
Regret is such a bitter taste.
Such a bitter taste.
Regret.
Such a bitter taste
Belief and faith dies.
It's made it's mark.
Now we wander into our final our.
Wars.
Faith.
Failing methods fill the days.
Undermine life.
Baneful steps that conjure hate.
Claiming our lives.
Balance fades with every day.
A growing cloud.
Simple lessons show the way.
Fall into void.
We stopped listening.
Followed our nature.
Bound by hatred our lives grow torn.
Finding new ways to betray.
Claiming the weak.
Boundaries crossed with no remorse.
Killing ourselves.
Forcing dogma overthrown.
A new standard waits.
Credence in all but one.
Our own kind.
Are you listening?
Now can you feel me?
Now are you listening?
Now can you feel me?
Take one look at our battered existence.
This persists in unity as every culture burns and segregates.
Wars!
Shattered our lives grow torn.
Who will save you?
Our demise.
Stand up it's time to face your day.
Regret is such a bitter taste.
Such a bitter taste.
Regret.
Such a bitter taste
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A monition is a warning of impending danger. So I think the meaning of the song is quite straight forward in that it is a monition of what happens if we continue down the current path we are on (considering the song was released over a decade ago and little has changed isn't very pleasing though).
I think this is a call to arms (well not per se), in effect to embrace the world, each other and put down our weapons. Work together and make the world a better place.