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.
When I was younger I used to understand
That when you're with a girl, you gotta act like a man
Mama told me that's the way it should be
And I know my mama never lied to me.
What do you think about you're changin' times
Cause when I'm with you I just can't make up my mind
Since I met you don't know right from wrong
Somebody tell me just what's goin' on
Just can't get myself thinkin' straight
I'm all shook up and in a terrible state
Sometimes I think I got it all figured out
Then you do something new and it just knocks me right out
Someday baby I'm going to have to make a stand
The way that you treat me baby
Don't make me feel too much like a man
And baby, baby, the changes you're goin' through
You're drivin' me half crazy
Can't make up my mind what to do about you.
Tellin' myself that time is on my side
You're gettin' this feelin' that my mind's on the slide
Dumped on the floor, I feel I'm trapped in a spin
Don't know how to end, can't think of where to begin
She don't care I know she don't even try
But when she turns it on
You know she gets me so high.
She's a lady that's making my life a sin
You know that I'm runnin' in a losin' race
There ain't no way I can win
Baby, baby, the changes you're goin' through
They're drivin' me half crazy
Can't make up my mind what to do about you.
That when you're with a girl, you gotta act like a man
Mama told me that's the way it should be
And I know my mama never lied to me.
What do you think about you're changin' times
Cause when I'm with you I just can't make up my mind
Since I met you don't know right from wrong
Somebody tell me just what's goin' on
Just can't get myself thinkin' straight
I'm all shook up and in a terrible state
Sometimes I think I got it all figured out
Then you do something new and it just knocks me right out
Someday baby I'm going to have to make a stand
The way that you treat me baby
Don't make me feel too much like a man
And baby, baby, the changes you're goin' through
You're drivin' me half crazy
Can't make up my mind what to do about you.
Tellin' myself that time is on my side
You're gettin' this feelin' that my mind's on the slide
Dumped on the floor, I feel I'm trapped in a spin
Don't know how to end, can't think of where to begin
She don't care I know she don't even try
But when she turns it on
You know she gets me so high.
She's a lady that's making my life a sin
You know that I'm runnin' in a losin' race
There ain't no way I can win
Baby, baby, the changes you're goin' through
They're drivin' me half crazy
Can't make up my mind what to do about you.
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