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.
Yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, oh oh yeah
I'm building my stairway, stairway to Heaven
But I keep finding no way back down
One more brick
One more to die, I probably won't make it to Heaven
No singing no sad songs or kind words by the Reverend
No one sheddin' tears with happy thoughts to think of
The suffering and pain, I bring the one you need to speak of
I'm a bad seed cultivated from anyone in need
I become cheap, one speed
Hit the target and leavin' your souls free
Call up the night, you never stood a chance
Dance with the Devil, two hands on the metal
Two vans in the shadow, one man in the battle
So I slam, I could kill a man, put my foot on the throttle
Tomorrow is gone, headed for the border
No sorrow for those left in the wake of my disorder
My fuse is shorter than most men
Pre-game, you livin' a dream
I send 'em all with no strings attached
I cut them off like a puppeteer, outta here, don't ever see me again
I disappear, on the run, I live in isolation
These eyes in the mirror don't like the men we facin'
When it's over for me, the reaper surely waits
Standin' with my victims, waitin' by the Pearly Gates
Lookin' like they locked me out, I'm lookin' through the keyhole
Wishin' I could be inside, the life for never me, no
Runnin' 'til my numbers up but now my soul's in Limbo
I look into the darkness while I'm starin' out the window
And it goes
Saying one, two, shoot for the moon
Singing three, four, fallin' back to the floor
[?] rise tomorrow gonna be another day
When you wake up in the mornin', they'll be plenty bricks to lay
Saying one, two, shoot for the moon
Singing three, four, fallin' back to the floor
[?] rise tomorrow gonna be another day
When you wake up in the mornin', they'll be plenty bricks to lay
I'm building my stairway, stairway to heaven
But I keep finding no way back down
I'm building my stairway, stairway to heaven
But I keep finding no way back down
One more brick
Oh yeah, oh oh yeah
I'm building my stairway, stairway to Heaven
But I keep finding no way back down
One more brick
One more to die, I probably won't make it to Heaven
No singing no sad songs or kind words by the Reverend
No one sheddin' tears with happy thoughts to think of
The suffering and pain, I bring the one you need to speak of
I'm a bad seed cultivated from anyone in need
I become cheap, one speed
Hit the target and leavin' your souls free
Call up the night, you never stood a chance
Dance with the Devil, two hands on the metal
Two vans in the shadow, one man in the battle
So I slam, I could kill a man, put my foot on the throttle
Tomorrow is gone, headed for the border
No sorrow for those left in the wake of my disorder
My fuse is shorter than most men
Pre-game, you livin' a dream
I send 'em all with no strings attached
I cut them off like a puppeteer, outta here, don't ever see me again
I disappear, on the run, I live in isolation
These eyes in the mirror don't like the men we facin'
When it's over for me, the reaper surely waits
Standin' with my victims, waitin' by the Pearly Gates
Lookin' like they locked me out, I'm lookin' through the keyhole
Wishin' I could be inside, the life for never me, no
Runnin' 'til my numbers up but now my soul's in Limbo
I look into the darkness while I'm starin' out the window
And it goes
Saying one, two, shoot for the moon
Singing three, four, fallin' back to the floor
[?] rise tomorrow gonna be another day
When you wake up in the mornin', they'll be plenty bricks to lay
Saying one, two, shoot for the moon
Singing three, four, fallin' back to the floor
[?] rise tomorrow gonna be another day
When you wake up in the mornin', they'll be plenty bricks to lay
I'm building my stairway, stairway to heaven
But I keep finding no way back down
I'm building my stairway, stairway to heaven
But I keep finding no way back down
One more brick
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Stairway to Heaven Lyrics as written by Larry E. Muggerud Brevi
Lyrics © SOUL ASSASSINS INC, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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