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.
Flying birds
Excellent birds
Watch them fly, there they go
Falling snow
Excellent snow
Here it comes. watch it fall
Long words
Excellent words
I can hear them now
This is the picture, this is the picture
This is the picture, this is the picture
I'm sitting by the window
Watching the snow fall
I'm looking out
And I'm moving, turning in time
Catching up. moving in
Jump up! I can land on my feet. look out!
This is the picture, this is the picture
This is the picture, this is the picture
Looking out. watching out
When I see the future I close my eyes
I can see it now
I see pictures of people, rising up
Pictures of people, falling down
I see pictures of people
They're standing on their heads, they're ready
They're looking out, look out!
They're watching out, watch out!
They're looking out, look out!
They're watching out, watch out!
I see pictures of people
I see pictures of people
Excellent birds
Watch them fly, there they go
Falling snow
Excellent snow
Here it comes. watch it fall
Long words
Excellent words
I can hear them now
This is the picture, this is the picture
This is the picture, this is the picture
I'm sitting by the window
Watching the snow fall
I'm looking out
And I'm moving, turning in time
Catching up. moving in
Jump up! I can land on my feet. look out!
This is the picture, this is the picture
This is the picture, this is the picture
Looking out. watching out
When I see the future I close my eyes
I can see it now
I see pictures of people, rising up
Pictures of people, falling down
I see pictures of people
They're standing on their heads, they're ready
They're looking out, look out!
They're watching out, watch out!
They're looking out, look out!
They're watching out, watch out!
I see pictures of people
I see pictures of people
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This song is most likely a criticism of lazy television watchers. Especially how they vicariously live through the TV set without ever doing a thing. The stuff in the present tense is mocking of what is going on in the brain when you watch TV, which - by the way - induces the same brain patterns as staring at a wall.
A good example of how lyrics can be interpreted based on one's personal experiences. When I was much younger, and even more stupid, I had been listening to the "So" album a lot. I had a terrifying drug experience while in the woods outside my school. I could see the soccer fields from where I was laying (I was immobile) There were seagulls walking around and it was raining and this song kept playing in my head over and over again. I was positive that the seagulls were the excellent birds. Now whenever I hear it, I am so thankful that I survived my stupid years!
this is a weird fuckin song hahaha its a really cool one though...quite trippy. although, not on e of the best on So
It sounds like both singers are hypnotized in this song. I don't know if that's intentional...