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.
Time will swallow
Your precious time
Like magic create the future
What makes man so fickle?
Who put the daggers in those eyes?
Was it to learn
Through dark days of struggle?
Was it to burn
To burst all our bubbles?
Thunder and rain
Well the cynical flame will it heat, stick and blister?
Thunder and rain
Evangelistic brother
Should be banging a tambourine
Go wash your hands and fingers
Till your mind is clean
Was it your fate
To sleep like a normal?
Time and decay
No man is immortal
Thunder and rain
Boredom and pain lit the cynical flame
Will it heat stick and blister?
Thunder and rain
Still try to resist the pessimist
The pessimist no no
And these things I find
In the back of my mind
Where time lasts forever
I get all mixed
Think I'm all mankind
Listen Mr Pessimister
With your Catholic taste
Oh listen Mr Pessimister Pessimister
We do not relate
Listen Mr Pessimister, Pessimister, Pessimister
Mr Pessimister
Your precious time
Like magic create the future
What makes man so fickle?
Who put the daggers in those eyes?
Was it to learn
Through dark days of struggle?
Was it to burn
To burst all our bubbles?
Thunder and rain
Well the cynical flame will it heat, stick and blister?
Thunder and rain
Evangelistic brother
Should be banging a tambourine
Go wash your hands and fingers
Till your mind is clean
Was it your fate
To sleep like a normal?
Time and decay
No man is immortal
Thunder and rain
Boredom and pain lit the cynical flame
Will it heat stick and blister?
Thunder and rain
Still try to resist the pessimist
The pessimist no no
And these things I find
In the back of my mind
Where time lasts forever
I get all mixed
Think I'm all mankind
Listen Mr Pessimister
With your Catholic taste
Oh listen Mr Pessimister Pessimister
We do not relate
Listen Mr Pessimister, Pessimister, Pessimister
Mr Pessimister
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Actually, I heard that according to some interview, Roland just wrote down his own thoughts about pessimism. Not the entire Elemental album is an answer to Curt. As far as we know, the song wich actually is about Curt is "Fish Out of Water".
The song is about Arthur Janov, others on the album are about Curt--such as Fish out of Water etc...
"Elemental" was Roland's first album without Curt, following their very tumultuous breakup. The two were extremely good friends, from childhood on. (No, NOT lovers. I once speculated about that, too, but many sources are very clear that the guys are straight; both are married.) There were a lot of bad feelings on both sides, but Roland actually felt quite betrayed. He felt Curt had abandoned the friendship and the TFT artistic "ethos" in favor of the pop star lifestyle. The album is essentially Roland's "answer" to Curt, and Mr. Pessimist is literally about Curt.
Yes its about Curt alright!