Strip The Soul

"Push the camera deeper" always makes me think of a colonoscopy... but enough of that.

I personally think that in terms of the concept of the album, this song is about moments of regret the character (an up-and-coming serial killer) has. It's partially a conversation between him and the voices in his head, and him trying to convince himself either that he's done nothing wrong, that it wasn't his fault, or that what he's doing is an OK thing to do.

During the chorus, for example, it starts out with him reassuring himself that there's a reason for his actions ("This machine is there to please") and then quickly, he hears a command from another side of himself to keep acting how he's acting ("Strip the soul, fill the hole") He tries to think of why, and what he's doing exactly ("A fire to feed, a belt to bleed") when another, harsher command comes ("Kill them all"). The line "Do you want a western home in the rubble?" is a thought he's toying with that he's actually doing what's best; he's destroying the old to usher in the new, hence building a house on top of the rubble.

The first verse is tricky: "This is my home, this is my own, we don't like no strangers" This is him saying that he has every right to be doing what he's doing. "Raise the kids good, beat the kids good and tie them up" A thought/command from the darker parts of his mind.

'Spread it wide, my wife, my life, push the camera deeper" - this has several interpretations on my part, actually. It's either a command to raise the stakes ("spread it wide" meaning widen your range and "push the camera deeper" meaning dig deeper into the dark parts of your mind, find new ways to kill and shock) paired with him assuring himself that he still has control ("My wife my life"), or simply a "power through sex" metaphor such as the one which was explored in depth on the nine Inch Nails album "The Downward Spiral."

"I can use, I abuse, my muse, I made them all." - this is more reassurance that the character still has a life of his own and can essentially do whatever he wants with it.

The second verse starts with his thoughts becoming more frantic as he actually tries to convince himself he hasn't hurt anyone ("They are not gone they are not gone they are only sleeping") but then realizes he actually has killed, several times ("In graves, in ways, in clay underneath the floor"). The third line is his realization that he's slowing going completely crazy, and the last line is the complete takeover of the darkside/secondary personality/voices/whatever is driving him to kill.

I think its about a schizophreniac who lives in his own fantasy world and abuses his own imaginary family Line 4-I can use, I abuse, my muse, I MADE THEM ALL UP.

In case you didn't know, the album In Absentia is about a serial killer. In this song PT tries to convey what life is like through a serial killers' eyes.

In case you didn't know, the album In Absentia is about a serial killer. In this song PT tries to convey what life is like through a serial killers' eyes.

Seems kind of like the underlying mesage is sort of about the commercialisation of sex. (Push the Camera Deeper referring to porn). "Fill the hole strip the soul" kind of suggests like, they abuse their bodies and become less of a person

I'm pretty sure this song is about Fred West (look him up); he killed people and hid their bodies by adding walls to his house. He also had a (extremely fucked up) family complete with murder, torture, incest, etc.

There is definately some sexual meaning to this song, i think the "machine" he's referring to is his penis (its there to please) Fill the hole. well you can figure that one out.

I love the feel and tone of this song even though the lyrics are very distructive.

Ahhh people the mening is obvious! This song is about child abuse and wife abuse. It told from the point of view of the abuser in the family, the father, and how he belives that he is raising his family well [raise the kids good beat the kids good]. He also despises the outside people interfering with his abuse and attempting to stop him [puch the camera deeper/we dont want no strangers]

Actually, Porcupine Tree never said anything about the album being about a serial killer. For all we know, it could be just a bunch of really awesome songs. But this song does happen to be about a family of serial killers who lure strangers into their home, kill them, and bury them behind the walls of the house.