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.
Joan was quizzical, studied pataphysical science in the home
Late nights all alone with a test tube
Oh, oh oh oh
Maxwell Edison, majoring in medicine, calls her on the phone
"Can I take you out to the pictures, Joa-oa-oa-oan?"
But as she's getting ready to go
A knock comes on the door
Bang, bang
Maxwell's silver hammer came down upon her head
Clang, clang
Maxwell's silver hammer made sure that she was dead
Back in school again, Maxwell plays the fool again
Teacher gets annoyed
Wishing to avoid an unpleasant sce-e-e-ene
She tells Max to stay when the class has gone away
So he waits behind
Writing fifty times, "I must not be so-o-o-o..."
But when she turns her back on the boy
He creeps up from behind
Bang, bang
Maxwell's silver hammer came down upon her head
Clang, clang
Maxwell's silver hammer made sure that she was dead
P.C. 31 says, "We got a dirty one"
Maxwell stands alone
Painting testimonial pictures
Oh, oh oh oh
Rose and Valerie, screaming from the gallery, say, "He must go free!"
The judge does not agree, and he tells them so
But as the words are leaving his lips
A noise comes form behind
Bang, bang
Maxwell's silver hammer came down upon his head
Clang, clang
Maxwell's silver hammer made sure
That he was dead
Late nights all alone with a test tube
Oh, oh oh oh
Maxwell Edison, majoring in medicine, calls her on the phone
"Can I take you out to the pictures, Joa-oa-oa-oan?"
But as she's getting ready to go
A knock comes on the door
Bang, bang
Maxwell's silver hammer came down upon her head
Clang, clang
Maxwell's silver hammer made sure that she was dead
Back in school again, Maxwell plays the fool again
Teacher gets annoyed
Wishing to avoid an unpleasant sce-e-e-ene
She tells Max to stay when the class has gone away
So he waits behind
Writing fifty times, "I must not be so-o-o-o..."
But when she turns her back on the boy
He creeps up from behind
Bang, bang
Maxwell's silver hammer came down upon her head
Clang, clang
Maxwell's silver hammer made sure that she was dead
P.C. 31 says, "We got a dirty one"
Maxwell stands alone
Painting testimonial pictures
Oh, oh oh oh
Rose and Valerie, screaming from the gallery, say, "He must go free!"
The judge does not agree, and he tells them so
But as the words are leaving his lips
A noise comes form behind
Bang, bang
Maxwell's silver hammer came down upon his head
Clang, clang
Maxwell's silver hammer made sure
That he was dead
Lyrics submitted by Eamon
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