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 young, I was told I'd find
One rich man in ten has a satisfied mind
And I'm the one
100 to one says I wouldn't react
But I'm the 1 in 100 who will swing right back
Yes I'm the one
Thousands of steps and staircases to climb
Thousands of men you'd most likely decline
And yet I'm the one
10,000 to 1, could I possibly bet?
I'm compelled by your love and I haven't lost yet
Clearly you're the one
One in a million don't mean what it meant
And these millions of gold coins won't gleam when they're spent
And you're left with none
Ten million dollars
Could win the whole lot
But if ten million dollars is all that you got
You won't be the one
Hundreds of millions of papers to sign
Hundreds of millions of souls left behind
And yet we're the ones
A billion to one
Don't the odds make you sick?
To be one in a billion's a terrible trick
You're the wretched one
One rich man in ten has a satisfied mind
And I'm the one
100 to one says I wouldn't react
But I'm the 1 in 100 who will swing right back
Yes I'm the one
Thousands of steps and staircases to climb
Thousands of men you'd most likely decline
And yet I'm the one
10,000 to 1, could I possibly bet?
I'm compelled by your love and I haven't lost yet
Clearly you're the one
One in a million don't mean what it meant
And these millions of gold coins won't gleam when they're spent
And you're left with none
Ten million dollars
Could win the whole lot
But if ten million dollars is all that you got
You won't be the one
Hundreds of millions of papers to sign
Hundreds of millions of souls left behind
And yet we're the ones
A billion to one
Don't the odds make you sick?
To be one in a billion's a terrible trick
You're the wretched one
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Rich Man Lyrics as written by Ezra Koenig Ariel Zvi Rechtshaid
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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