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.
Well we sit in empty rooms and dream our lives away
While the spirits come and go without a sound
And just like you and me, they're tryin' to find a way
Find a way, find a way home
There's a full moon in the sky, but that don't worry me
I don't ever hang my soul out on the line
When the witchin' hour comes, I always fly away
Fly away, fly away home
There's a light in the city, that comes down from above
Leavin' you as wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove
Don't blow your tomorrows, don't throw away your love
You've got to be as wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove
Now you once asked me why we can't communicate
But it doesn't always pay to tell the truth
If I told you right now, you'd only run away
Run away, run away home
So, we sit in empty rooms and dream our lives away
While the spirits come and go without a sound
Yeah, just like you and me, they're tryin' to find a way
Find a way, find a way home
There's a light in the city, that comes down from above
Leavin' you as wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove
Don't blow your tomorrows, don't throw away your love
You've got to be as wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove
While the spirits come and go without a sound
And just like you and me, they're tryin' to find a way
Find a way, find a way home
There's a full moon in the sky, but that don't worry me
I don't ever hang my soul out on the line
When the witchin' hour comes, I always fly away
Fly away, fly away home
There's a light in the city, that comes down from above
Leavin' you as wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove
Don't blow your tomorrows, don't throw away your love
You've got to be as wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove
Now you once asked me why we can't communicate
But it doesn't always pay to tell the truth
If I told you right now, you'd only run away
Run away, run away home
So, we sit in empty rooms and dream our lives away
While the spirits come and go without a sound
Yeah, just like you and me, they're tryin' to find a way
Find a way, find a way home
There's a light in the city, that comes down from above
Leavin' you as wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove
Don't blow your tomorrows, don't throw away your love
You've got to be as wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
As Wise as a Serpent Lyrics as written by Gerry Rafferty
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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