| Deftones – Diamond Eyes Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Please see my summary of each track. Basically I believe the album as a whole tells the following story: On his deathbed at the end of the album, the human-turned god-turned human (Chi?) addresses his wife. The album has told us that she existed as goddess, complex priestess, DIAMOND EYES, over the Earth for a very long time before the man begged her to let him join her ranks. She let him into her ROYAL chambers, and impressed with his compassion for the Earth, made him her king and gave him CMND. He distracted her from her duties with the pleasures of Earth. She lost her purity when SHE SAW THE BUTCHER. She waived her immortality to be with him physically, and they had a son. When the PRINCE and Earthlings destroyed the planet, she was killed. Earth ROCKET SKATED into a state of hell. The only remnant of the beautiful past was the SEXTAPE. The Prince asked his father to take a RISK by opening old wounds and making an attempt at forgiveness. If the father ever wanted to forgive the son, who had committed evil, he was available at 976-EVIL. Earth was a PLACE OF DEATH because it managed to tempt and ultimately kill the complex priestess who had ruled for so long. Am I full of shit, or is this the greatest story ever told? |
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| Deftones – This Place Is Death Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Transcribing this song brought me to tears once I realized its meaning in the context of the rest of the album. (Please see my posts for each track, starting with "Diamond Eyes".) On his deathbed, the king addresses his wife. The album has told us that she existed as goddess, complex priestess, DIAMOND EYES, over the Earth for a very long time before the man begged her to let him join her ranks. She let him into her ROYAL chambers, and impressed with his compassion for the Earth, made him her king and gave him CMND. He distracted her from her duties with the pleasures of Earth. She lost her purity when SHE SAW THE BUTCHER. She waived her immortality to be with him physically, and when the PRINCE and Earth destroyed the planet, she was killed. Earth ROCKET SKATED into a state of hell. The only remnant of the beautiful past was the SEXTAPE. The Prince asked his father to take a RISK by opening old wounds and making an attempt at forgiveness. If the father ever wanted to forgive the son, who had committed evil, he was available at 976-EVIL. Earth was a PLACE OF DEATH because it managed to tempt and ultimately kill the complex priestess who had ruled for so long. The king will always love the queen “No one else has a hold over me, like you do” Please read my posts for each track and let me know if you think I'm on to something or if I am just completely butchering a beautiful piece of artwork. I thought this was Deftones' best work musically, before I even explored the meaning of lyrics. Deftones rock. GREATEST.O.A.TIME.! Get better Chi! |
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| Deftones – 976-EVIL Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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(Please see my posts on the previous tracks for some context. This album tells one continuing story. That's how I like to look at it anyway. Nobody could really know what Chino is writing about!) This song is sung from the Prince’s perspective. He addresses his father: “For a thousand days, you’ve been staring away Are you phased or are you thinking? Your crack a smile and wave, doesn’t scare me away” The Prince and the King have aged in the wake of apocalypse. The Prince feels incredible guilt for destroying everything his father loved, but he still tries to mend their relationship. “Hit the brakes, I feel like cruising with you…too…so I gaze In your eyes and I wonder [later, “and I want her”] Can you take me on?” The Prince wants to spend some time with his father. He remembers how his father loved “cruising the city” on Earth so long ago (see “Sextape”). The son acknowledges the absence of the queen, who died in the destruction of Earth, and he wonders if his father can handle having the son in his life at all after he has ruined everything. “Your haze that I’m under, come and wake me up” Soon take a bow and wave, as you’re carried away. The Prince is suffering from guilt and begs for forgiveness from his father, who will be “carried away.” This is an interesting concept considering the father has already died (between “Royal” and “CMND/CTRL”). The only meaning I can gather is that the father completely gave up his mortality during “Rocket Skates.” He has made the journey from human to god back to human and now he is dying. “It was great but I’m not leaving, Your crack a smile and wave still doesn’t scare me away For a thousand days we could get carried away…are you in?” Perhaps this coming death isn’t the end? “I’m anxious and I feel like cruising with you.” The Prince wants some father-son time. In "Beauty School" it was asserted that the king/father has a phone with which he uses to call the Earth. If he ever wants to forgive the son/prince, the son can be reached at 976-EVIL. He is evil because he represents the evil deeds of man that destroyed the Earth (see "Prince"). |
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| Deftones – Risk Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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(Please see my posts on the previous tracks, for context.) “You can’t talk, I’m anxious, I’m off the walls, I’m right here” The Prince addresses his father, who has retreated to the heavens and closed himself off from the outside world. It is unclear where the queen is, or whether she survived the apocalypse. The Prince was always a little demented, but now he has all but gone mad from the events that have occurred. Having witnessed the king’s breakdown and revelry in the humanist apocalypse, he wants no more advice from his father (“You can’t talk”). Or perhaps the king has gone mute from his time in solitude. The Prince is willing to offer his father help. “Just come outside and see in, But pack your heart you might need it” He beckons his father to stop out of heaven’s front door and to look down into post-apocalyptic Earth, but warns him to brace himself for what he might see. “I will find a way, I’m confused some, but I think I can try I will save your life, I’ll try it for you” The Prince wants to save his father’s life. The king's life is tied to the Earth he loved so much. “You’re locked up, you exit, you did it before, Yea I’ve seen it” The Prince refers to his father’s journey from Earth to heaven. This reinforces the theory that Chi is the inspiration for the human-turned god-turned human protagonist. This seems to specifically refer to Chi’s escape from his vegetative body to his throne beside the complex priestess. “Come outside and breathe in, Relax your arms and let me in I know what to say to take you higher, high No one else can take you higher, But I will try, I will try it for you.” The Prince knows his father has always strived for enlightenment (see “Royal”) and he wants to help him get back to nirvana. He wants him to break from his self-imposed incarceration. He also wants to be accepted as family. In the song Prince, it is vaguely implied that the son’s earthly ambitions ruined the Earth, or at least that the son was representative of all that destroyed the Earth the king loved so much. The son wants the father to forgive him, uncross his arms and let him in. |
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| Deftones – Sextape Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Please see my posts on the previouse songs. The happenings of this song are a flashback. We know this from the title of the song. It refers to the tape the godly lovers made back during “You’ve Met the Butcher.” To have any physical connection at all, and to make these tapes, they had to temporarily step away from their godly status, since sex is an Earthly pleasure. This song is about one of their trips from heaven to Earth, possibly the first, but probably the last. It’s possible that this part of the story takes place after the hell described in Rocket Skates, as the deposed king and queen are floating through chaos. But it seems way too calm for that. It has the feeling of new love. It describes possibly the couple’s first venture from heaven to Earth. “Hours out from land” they are far away from their heavenly throne and now capable of physical contact as they “cruise through the city”. The queen has finally become comfortable with the idea of “waiving her power” and becoming human to enjoy “hours of pleasure.” The line “fusing all our powers” is interesting, because at this juncture in the story, the two are still the ruling gods of the universe. However, their “powers” refers not to their ability to impose their godly will, but to increase each other’s enjoyment on a level only available to humans. |
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| Deftones – Rocket Skates Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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“Rocket Skates” may refer to speed at which the universe is heading for a state of chaos and hell. At the end of “Prince” the Earth ended, but the apocalypse seems to have extended beyond Earth’s boundaries and damaged heaven as well. This should have been expected as we were aware of the king and queen’s secret connection to, and love for, the Earth. The king speaks to his queen, in the aftermath: “You’re red, soaking wet I’m right next to you You’re red, soaking wet Let’s writhe, let me see you trip One move that will keep you wet Let’s fall in a long sadistic trance, Put the keys in our hands” The king embraces the hell that was the inevitable fate of mankind. From the beginning of the album, the king has demonstrated his deep appreciation for the human condition. Remember that in “Royal” the only reason he wanted to become a god was to save humanity. And that shortly after he took his position on the throne, he was drawn back to Earth, and even convinced his queen to make the journey with him. Now that all order has broken down, the survivors are free to revel in their humanism. “GunsRazorsKnives, Fuck with me GunsRazorsKnives” The Earth has deteriorated into a violent hell, and the godly king has regressed to his human form. He has left his immortality behind, and drunkenly beckons someone to try and kill him. “Let’s sail in this sea of charms Let’s drown underneath the stars” He caves in to the human pleasures that have always charmed him, as the Diamond Eyes watch the ruination of their former leader. “Let’s drink with our weapons in our hands Let’s sleep in this trance” All order has broken down and he acknowledges that he is at his most vulnerable. Whereas before the king and queen were only taking day trips to human existence, they now are drunk on humanism and retain almost none of their former immortal glory. He is free to revel, but he must keep weapon in hand, because he is vulnerable. This song is about hell on Earth. |
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| Deftones – Prince Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I have a lot of trouble discerning what’s going on in the song. But by the name, we can assume that the godly king and queen have fathered a son, a prince, who seems to reside on Earth. I believe in this song the protagonist is addressing his son, who despite his godly origins, epitomizes the problems of humanity. “I relate to your kind, your design, your devotion to wave Get your brain on the prize, then dive inside The mindset of a killer with your mind out of phase” The king says, ‘Son I appreciate your ambition, go for it.’ But his instructions are tinged with grave concern, as he realizes his son has a mindset that is potentially very dangerous to itself and to the Earth and beyond. As the first son of the Diamond Eyes, of the god and goddess, the Prince has potentially unlimited power. The king explains his worldview to his son: “It’s a game that we like, we crave, yet nobody wins Any way you decide, you try, but you die” He explains that earthly endeavors ultimately get you nowhere. The Prince realizes this is true and he is enraged and saddened at the Earth’s fate. “The mindset of a killer, with your gaze you paint the room blood red With tears pouring from the stage” The king acknowledges his son’s rage and sadness for the Earth. “And you can’t stop now, rung by rung, almost out Covered in black and gold No one cares and no one knows” The king beckons his son to leave the Earth and climb the ladder to the heavens where he can join his parents in safety. The earth is “covered in black and gold” which is to say it is awash in evil (“black”) primarily because of greed for riches (“gold”). None of the humans care nor are aware of their impending doom. “My gift to the world outside, it’s ok, I’m alright Now open your empty hands ‘cause here comes the fun Here comes the end” The king’s gift to the world is to leave them in ignorance of their impending doom. He plays it off as though the ending of his former domain doesn’t bother him, and even goes so far to say it will be fun watching the Earth destroy itself. While the humans may deserve their fate, we know that the ending of the Earth must truly disturb the king, since he came from the Earth (see "Royal") and it is the only place in which he can physically interact with his queen. “Click erase the device Give thanks, then clear out the room” The “device” reminds us of the sex tapes the king and queen made on Earth in “Butcher.” These sex tapes are described in the song "Sex Tape." Erasing the device and clearing the room refers to the end of the Earth. “Blow kisses, wave them goodbye…Goodnight” The sinister groove of this song reflects the Earthly evil within the Prince. |
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| Deftones – Beauty School Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This entire album tells one continuing story. Please see my posts on previous tracks and let me know if you think I'm at all accurate. By the time we reach track 5, “Beauty School,” the queen has fallen completely in love with her king. She is becoming more comfortable with their visits to the physical realm, where they must shed their godly status. “I like you when, when you take off your face You put away all your teeth And take us way underneath” It is becoming more apparent that the king is very powerful. Though he doesn’t always elect to use his power to its potential (see “CMND/CTRL”) he possesses powerful tools (see “teeth” explained in my interpretation of the song “Royal.” But the queen is becoming less focuses on his godly powers, as she realizes the beauty of his mortal/human side. She likes it when they leave their heavenly state and visit the lower world of the humans, where they may explore their physical relationship (“I like…when you…take us way underneath.”) “‘Cause you could die if you take it alone I watch you taste it I see your face And I know I’m alive You’re shooting stars from the barrel of your eyes And it drives me crazy, just drives me wild” The queen realizes what perhaps the king has known all along: their partnership is essential to saving the world. (This makes a lot more sense if you have read my previous posts.) Analogous to the story of Christ, the god must visit (“taste”) the physical world he wishes to save. But the Earth is poison and could kill God’s physical manifestation if he goes alone. When the queen sees the king recoil from the poison Earth, it is an indication of the mortality the pair chose to embrace (in “You’ve Seen the Butcher”) thus she knows she’s alive. It has been established (in “Diamond Eyes”) that the gods direct the Earthlings through manifestations of stars or rain. She watches the king work as he shoots stars from his eyes. “I kinda like you when, when you make up the reel You take the phone in your room, stop the tape or resume Well you could try if you think it will load” She still does not fully understand the king’s methods. His room (which she slowly enters in “Butcher”) is a secretive place where he does his work. She is learning more about what it means to be mortal/human and she is enamored by his enlightenment on the subject. It is later revealed (in 976-EVIL) that the protagonist (who is possibly based on Chi) uses his phone to dial Earth. “It’s a beautiful ride” She refers to the bittersweet journey from heaven to Earth. |
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| Deftones – You've Seen the Butcher Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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(Please see my interpretations of the previous three tracks for some context.) So in the previous track, “CMND/CTRL,” it was revealed that the protagonist is losing interest in his godly duties of guiding the Earthlings, and is becoming more focused on connecting with his goddess queen. His sexual interest poses a dilemma since all physical concerns should have been left behind with his physical body. He will convince his queen to embrace their physical pursuits, thus “butchering” the purity of her godly state. “Don’t wanna take it slow I’m gonna take you home And watch the world explode from underneath your glow” The protagonist realizes that the development of his forbidden physical relationship could spell doom for the Earth, but he now values his queen over those he is supposed to watch over. “Yea I wanna watch the way you creep across my skull” To engage in sexual relations is to step out of their royal, heavenly being, and back down to their physical, earthly being. As the protagonist exists in the realm of the Diamond Eyes, he has no body. The skull is a reference to his former, physical self, which apparently is still accessible. “You slowly enter because you know my room [later ‘because you know my rule’]” In the previous track, CMND/CTRL, it was established that the protagonist, who has only recently has joined the complex priestess in her rule, has the greater power. She recognizes his power (“you know my rule”) and acts accordingly (“you slowly enter”). “And then you crawl your knees off Before you shake my tomb” The goddess has followed the protagonist’s lead, and temporarily abandoned her lofty position in the heavens to join his physical being, which of course dwells in a tomb since he is deceased. “I wanna watch you close I need to see for sure After the tapings through who do you think we can show” It is no small thing to give up reign over the universe. He is comfortable giving up his godly status to be with her physically, but he is not convinced she is truly ready to join him. The two of them are alone in a universe full of lesser beings that could not fathom their situation and the ramifications of the decision they have made. They probably shouldn’t share their sex tape with TMZ since it would be an admission that the gods have abandoned their duties. Earth probably wouldn’t take that too well, since it was previously established in CMND/CTRL that the Earthlings can’t do anything for themselves and rely solely on commands from the Diamond Eyes. The next track is “Beauty School,” in which the teetering goddess voices the admiration she has for her king. |
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| Deftones – CMND/CTRL Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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So the now the protagonist has made peace with those he’s left behind on Earth (see “Diamond Eyes”), and has made his case for sitting on the throne next to the “complex priestess” to rule over Earth (see “Royal”). The third track on the album is an introduction to the relationship the protagonist and the priestess have. The male is CMND, the female is CTRL. They argue over the deteriorating conditions on Earth and whose fault it is. “I can’t tell…How’s this shitt all my fault? It’s a department I fill but they should So I send commands just because I can Now I can just imagine the difference it has” The protagonist makes the case to his queen that the Earthlings rely too much on the gods, when they should be taking care of their own problems. Sadly, he is losing hope in humanity. In the track “Royal,” he demonstrated a passion for saving humanity, but now he sends commands “just because I can.” He imagines that even his half-assed efforts are saving the humans from destroying themselves. “Straight out your mind You see I’m well aware, you’re out of your mind” He bickers with his queen, upset that she has let things get so out of hand on Earth. Remember, he has only just arrived on his throne, so he feels none of the blame rests on him. “I said your name it slipped off my tongue Pointed at the camera Laughing at you” The gods are being defied openly. In some circles it is considered disrespectful to depict God’s name in writing, and perhaps in some instances this stretches to uttering the name at all. But in this case, not only is God’s name being spoken, those speaking it are pointing at the camera and laughing at God. “You see no one cares Its how you wear it not what it is” If you suck at your job, then it doesn’t matter that your nametag says “God.” “I can’t tell, but how’s this shit not your fault Bitch you’re barbaric, King Kong, get some” The male ruler resorts to name calling, further asserting that responsibility for the brutal condition of man rests with his queen. “Switching command, just because I can I like to see you wear it why can’t I stare” Though newly arrived, it seems the god king has more power than the god queen. But occasionally he hands over command, because it turns him on to see her in supreme control of the cosmos. “Switching command just because I can and if I let my guard down who knows what then. An underlying sexual tension exists between the king and queen. He playfully goads her. Physical concerns, including sex, should have been left behind on Earth. This is the dilemma the protagonist faces. "So once again yea, just because I can well just because I can” He is losing interest in his godly duties to command the Earthlings, as his relationship with his queen steals his focus. This leads us directly into the fourth track, “You’ve Seen the Butcher.” |
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| Deftones – Royal Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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To reiterate my interpretation of the track "Diamond Eyes", I believe the album name refers to an omniscient consciousness that watches over the Earth, and is made up of the energy of those who have experienced life and death and now have the clearest perception of existence. Doing any research at all reveals that Chino immeasurable respect for Chi, and believes that he makes the world a better place. In "Royal," Chino posits that if Chi leaves the physical world and becomes a part of the god energy, he will be an impetus to turn things around on Earth. Chino again lyricizes from Chi's point of view. He pleads for a connection with the overseers/Diamond Eyes/god so that he may help to improve the human condition: "Complex priestess, come down, Contact, reach us, go wild" Addressing the female constituent of the Diamond Eyes, Chi reveals his fervorous craving for knowledge and understanding. "I've chased your name, I've sailed all through space, To watch this" He has spent his life chasing nirvana and now senses that he is closer than ever to his goal. "Come down, Teach us the ropes Your concept, It keeps us, Provoked" Chi is eager to learn more about what he has spent his life chasing. "Now remove Your veil And let me light you up I'm on your team Let's go" Reveal yourself so that I may better understand you and energize your efforts to guide the Earthlings. These lines speak volumes to what Chi has apparently always meant to those around him. "Face to face, Light stare My custom made nightmares, Armed with teeth In fashion Now all we need is action" The veil has been removed and Chi lightly stares into the Diamond Eyes. Perhaps they lightly stare back, recognizing royalty. To again reference the immeasurable respect that everyone who knew him, seemed to have for Chi, it wouldn't be a stretch to think that Chino is literally deifying his friend in this story. His specific time and place on Earth have given Chi a unique perspective on how ugly the world can be, and also on how this ugliness may be remedied. Many would say these current times are the darkest chapters of Earth's history so far, thus his "nightmares armed with teeth" are "in fashion," and are a useful tool for solving humanity's woes. Everything is in place, we have everything we need, let's do the damn thing! [Lather, Rinse, Repeat.] "I'm the antidote The rocket’s taking off Tonight, It's time" I am the one who can make the world a better place. I will be joining the Diamond Eyes tonight. "Take me, I'll light you up Take me Up" I will leave my body behind to get this thing started. |
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| Deftones – Diamond Eyes Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Dillinger, you really got me thinking when you mentioned Chino said this album was written from another’s perspective. I think you're onto something when you say that it could be from Chi’s perspective, as he exists after his horrible accident. Here’s what meaning I am garnering from the album: "Diamond Eyes" refers to the overseeing, possibly governing consciousness that consist of the spirits/energy of those who have passed. Having experienced life and death, their perception has become ultimately clear, like the best diamond. They watch over the Earth and cosmos omnisciently, guiding those who seek nirvana. The first two tracks on this album are about the journey from earth to the realm of the “Diamond Eyes.” I believe the song's verses are sung from Chi’s point of view: “To the edge, ‘til we all get off” The accident has pushed everyone involved to their emotional extents. An awful experience leading to a climax falls in line with the masochistic themes that are all over Chino’s body of work. Perhaps Chi is even bringing some dark humor to a terrible situation by poking fun at Chino. “I will take you away with me Once and for all” Chi will guide his band-mates to the realm of the Diamond Eyes. I believe the chorus is sung from the point of view of those still on Earth: “Time will see us realign, Diamonds rain/reign across the sky, Shower me into the same realm” Friends and family will eventually be reunited. The overseers, the Diamond Eyes, manifest in the physical world as stars or as rain, and will actively move those on Earth to the beyond, where they will be cleansed ("showered") of their Earthly concerns. Now back to the verse, which could be Chi’s instructions to Chino: “Calculate our embrace, hold on, (Come with me now) Run away, outer space, with me” Find a way to pass the time until we are reunited in the heavens. [Lather, rinse, repeat.] “I will lead us to the same realm, Get set!” Get ready to leave Earth for the realm of the Diamond Eyes. The following track “Royal” clarifies that he may be halfway there, but Chi has not fully reached the heavens. [For anyone unfamiliar with the situation, Chi is currently in a coma.] He pleads with the Diamond Eyes, “Take me UP!” “When the coffin shakes, And the needle breaks, Come, Run away with me, come on you’ll see, Once and for all” The coffin will shake as Earth strains to keep its grip on your physical body. Finally the meter breaks, Earth loses claim to you, and you are off to the next… [Lather, rinse, repeat.] By all accounts, Chi is/was a very giving, compassionate person. It makes sense that if he was the voice behind an album, he would spend the first track comforting those left behind. He will spend the second track of the album, “Royal,” pleading with the Diamond Eyes to either come down from the heavens and teach him their ways, or to bring him up so that he may finally join them. Stay tuned… |
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