Before I Forget

People need to stop thinking that Corey's only writing very personal songs about himself, and concentrate on the way they've written the lyrics which (even though it reflects events in his own life), anyone can relate to:

This seems to be what people are confused about:

"I am a world before I am a man I was a creature before I could stand I will remember before I forget Before I forget that!"

Most people have interpreted it as being about evolution xD... LOL SlipKnoT's songs are almost always very 'personal' or based on feelings alone. It CAN be interpreted that way, but it has too many loose ends. I should mention first that evolution is -very- similar, metaphorically, to a human being growing up. In my opinion, anyone who has just reached 'adulthood' from adolescence (your teenage years), can come to realize what that meant, and it's really something:

"I was a creature before I could stand" = Easily interpreted: When you were a baby, you were self-centered, self-indulgent, and didn't necessarily 'think', you just did what you felt like, no matter what it was. 'Creature' is a metaphor for this. I've mentioned this first because it's just plain obvious.

"I am a world before I am a man" = This one's my favorite from this song, and to be honest, it's one of my favorite quotes, ever. I know I sound far-fetched here, but seriously this one line perfectly describes through metaphor: you growing up into an adult, and what that really means. When you're an adolescent (teenager), you have a psychological trait called 'tunnel vision', which isn't actually a tunnel-limited vision, but a way you perceive the entire world around you. All adolescents have this, and it makes you feel as if 'life would last forever', and you don't understand that life is in fact 'short' until you lose this trait when you become an adult. In this case, "world" is a metaphor for how you see yourself as an adolescent: you feel as if you WILL be exactly what you want to be in life (this one varies, and at least a few do), and you're constantly 'image-conscious' and 'self-conscious', wanting to 'have a certain identity', and wanting to be recognized as "someone" rather than "no one". Most of all though, you have your very own, opinionated perception of the "world" around you. (I'm aware I'm describing a rebellious teen, but seriously, this is a Slipknot song). In other words, you're a 'world' as a teenager, but anyone who has actually 'grown up' definitely knows that to be a "Man" in the modern world, you eventually need to 'let go' of those thoughts and accept the system: now you're no longer a "world", you're PART of it :].

To be honest, this song's helped me understand what it takes to -actually- grow up, and everyone's gotta check this out, if you still doubt the meaning I've given:

It's got a VERY similar name, and pretty much -exactly- the same meaning xD...

Mudvayne - "Forget To Remember"

What have I done? Where have I come from? When I burnt the backs with the sun through a glass did I seal the loss that's become me?

Feeling undone What have I become? When I turned my back on you I turned my back on myself and became this machine

Thoughtlessness Selfishness Hopelessness Arrogant

I feel it on the inside Twisting and contorting Memory has shaped me once again

Still feel you on the inside Biting through and stinging Will I ever forget to remember?

Shadows in the sun Filter through us Still wrestle the demons that arrested me as a child Confession rejected We grow up To give up People step on the cracks for wounds owed paid back Through the words of surrender

Emptiness Loneliness Listlessness Worthless

I feel it on the inside Twisting and contorting Memory has shaped me once again Still feel you on the inside Biting through and stinging Will I ever forget to remember?

Can you save me? From myself From these memories Can you save me? From myself From these memories

Surrender To the shadows Haunting inside Bleed through you Surrender to the secrets...inside Lies within you

I feel it on the inside Twisting and contorting Memory has shaped me once again Still feel you on the inside Biting through and stinging Will I ever forget to remember?

Can't feel you on the inside Set down the bag and left it Lost memory has left me One again Open up the inside Admission for the cleansing Now that I've forgotten to remember

Compare them and see for yourself: "Before I Forget"/"Forget To Remember" "I am a world before I am a man, I was a creature before I could stand. I will remember before I forget." "What have I become? When I turned my back on you I turned my back on myself and became this machine." "Memory has shaped me once again. Still feel you on the inside. Biting through and stinging. Will I ever forget to remember?"

"Still wrestle the demons that arrested me as a child Confession rejected We grow up To give up" ..."I am a world before I am a man"

:]