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.
What a ride
You could never fake a high like this
Would you mind if we spent a couple nights like this?
Feels like
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Feels like
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
I didn't know then, what I know now
And it messed me up when I found out
Whatever this is, I won't let go
Cause heaven is a hand to hold
I didn't know then, what I know now
And it messed me up when I found out
Whatever this is, I won't let go
Cause heaven is a hand to hold
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
What a time
Didn't know I could be scared and safe
Would it hurt if we only ever felt this way?
Feels like
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Feels like
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
I didn't know then, what I know now
And it messed me up when I found out
Whatever this is, I won't let go
Cause heaven is a hand to hold
I didn't know then, what I know now
And it messed me up when I found out
Whatever this is, I won't let go
Cause heaven is a hand to hold
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
I didn't know then, what I know now
And it messed me up when I found out
Whatever this is, I won't let go
Cause heaven is a hand to hold
You could never fake a high like this
Would you mind if we spent a couple nights like this?
Feels like
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Feels like
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
I didn't know then, what I know now
And it messed me up when I found out
Whatever this is, I won't let go
Cause heaven is a hand to hold
I didn't know then, what I know now
And it messed me up when I found out
Whatever this is, I won't let go
Cause heaven is a hand to hold
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
What a time
Didn't know I could be scared and safe
Would it hurt if we only ever felt this way?
Feels like
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Feels like
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
I didn't know then, what I know now
And it messed me up when I found out
Whatever this is, I won't let go
Cause heaven is a hand to hold
I didn't know then, what I know now
And it messed me up when I found out
Whatever this is, I won't let go
Cause heaven is a hand to hold
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
I didn't know then, what I know now
And it messed me up when I found out
Whatever this is, I won't let go
Cause heaven is a hand to hold
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