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.
My mom and daddy both say
I must be crazy to be this infatuated
But I know you know
We got something special never felt before
You get me going just looking at you
And the feeling's not hard to recognize so
Alright I'll come out in the open with it
Will you walk out with me
'Cause you're the first girl I've ever loved
Tell me do you feel the same way
Well I'll show you I'm not like all the rest
'Cause I know who I am
Your skin is smooth as silk and your eyes like stars
You're just like a picture book standing there
But I can't go on
No, I can't go on thinking you don't feel the same way as I do
I'll be so careful I'll hold you like china
I'll promise not to hurt you I'll hold you like china
You won't feel nothing, I'll hold you like china
'Cause I know it's your first time
Your mom and dad don't like me
And they tell me every time I call around to see you
I don't know why
'Cause I always straighten my tie and comb my hair
I know your brother thinks that
I'm a limp wristed wimp from the other side of town
I know he's got me wrong
Because I'm really not like that, I'll tell you why
You're the first girl I've ever loved
Tell me do you feel the same way
Well I'll show you I'm not like all the rest
'Cause I know who I am
I remember the very first time I held your hand
And that was the last time you were so close to me
But I can't go on
No, I can't go on thinking you don't feel the same way as I do
I'll be so careful I'll hold you like china
I'll promise not to hurt you I'll hold you like china
You won't feel nothing, I'll hold you like china
'Cause I know it's your first time
I know, you know and now I wanna, I wanna tell everybody
I know you, know and now I want them all to see
I know, you know and now I wanna, I wanna tell everybody
I know you, know and now I want them all to see
I must be crazy to be this infatuated
But I know you know
We got something special never felt before
You get me going just looking at you
And the feeling's not hard to recognize so
Alright I'll come out in the open with it
Will you walk out with me
'Cause you're the first girl I've ever loved
Tell me do you feel the same way
Well I'll show you I'm not like all the rest
'Cause I know who I am
Your skin is smooth as silk and your eyes like stars
You're just like a picture book standing there
But I can't go on
No, I can't go on thinking you don't feel the same way as I do
I'll be so careful I'll hold you like china
I'll promise not to hurt you I'll hold you like china
You won't feel nothing, I'll hold you like china
'Cause I know it's your first time
Your mom and dad don't like me
And they tell me every time I call around to see you
I don't know why
'Cause I always straighten my tie and comb my hair
I know your brother thinks that
I'm a limp wristed wimp from the other side of town
I know he's got me wrong
Because I'm really not like that, I'll tell you why
You're the first girl I've ever loved
Tell me do you feel the same way
Well I'll show you I'm not like all the rest
'Cause I know who I am
I remember the very first time I held your hand
And that was the last time you were so close to me
But I can't go on
No, I can't go on thinking you don't feel the same way as I do
I'll be so careful I'll hold you like china
I'll promise not to hurt you I'll hold you like china
You won't feel nothing, I'll hold you like china
'Cause I know it's your first time
I know, you know and now I wanna, I wanna tell everybody
I know you, know and now I want them all to see
I know, you know and now I wanna, I wanna tell everybody
I know you, know and now I want them all to see
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