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.
If the sun would lose its light
And we lived an endless night
And there was nothing left
That you could feel
That's how it would be
What my life would seem to me
If I didn't have your love
To make it real
If the stars were all unpinned
And a cold and bitter wind
Swallowed the world
Without a trace
Oh well, that's where I would be
What my life would seem to me
If I couldn't lift the veil
And see your face
And if no leaves were on the tree
And no water in the sea
And the break of day had nothing to reveal
That's how broken I would be
What my life would seem to me
If I didn't have your love
To make it real
If the sun would lose its light
And we lived in an endless night
And there was nothing left
That you could feel
If the sea were sand alone
And the flowers made of stone
And no one that you hurt
Could ever heal
Well, that's how broken I would be
What my life would seem to me
If I didn't have your love
To make it real
And we lived an endless night
And there was nothing left
That you could feel
That's how it would be
What my life would seem to me
If I didn't have your love
To make it real
If the stars were all unpinned
And a cold and bitter wind
Swallowed the world
Without a trace
Oh well, that's where I would be
What my life would seem to me
If I couldn't lift the veil
And see your face
And if no leaves were on the tree
And no water in the sea
And the break of day had nothing to reveal
That's how broken I would be
What my life would seem to me
If I didn't have your love
To make it real
If the sun would lose its light
And we lived in an endless night
And there was nothing left
That you could feel
If the sea were sand alone
And the flowers made of stone
And no one that you hurt
Could ever heal
Well, that's how broken I would be
What my life would seem to me
If I didn't have your love
To make it real
Lyrics submitted by bloodangel
If I Didn't Have Your Love Lyrics as written by Patrick Leonard Leonard Cohen
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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