Animal I Have Become

He's tried to deny his darker impulses. He wants to avoid letting his anger drive him; he wants to deny his impulses for revenge and quell the rage that he feels inside of himself. He has tried to deal with some ever-present problem that plagues him but can't win no matter how much he tries. He doesn't want to believe that he's being driven to the darkside.

But then when he says, "So what if you can see the darkest side of me?" he is, in effect, letting his dark side shine through. He is obeying his impulses. They're taking control of him DURING the song and he's telling everyone "fuck you, I don't care if you judge me" even though he himself occilates between wanting to deal with his problems and letting his animal urges take control of him, since that seems to be the simplest, most efficient way to deal with things. The rage he feels empowers and fuels the "animal" he feels he is becoming.

This song is like the song the band Skillet sings, the song "Monster" is also talking about your darkest side, I have fantasized about this once

His heart is caged in a cell of darkness and can't escape it, and so he's warning people around him to stay away

Do you get what I mean?

This song is about drug addiction. Adam Gontier got addicted to OxyCotin (a painkiller), and he wrote a lot of the songs from One X in rehabilitation.

The song is about how he's not in control anymore, that the drugs have left him uncontrollable, irritable and 'not the real him'. This becomes very evident when looking at the chorus:

"No one will ever change this animal I have become" - no one can change the past and what he's done. "Help me believe, It’s not the real me" - He's asking for help, to fight his addiction and make himself believe that he can change. "Somebody help me tame this animal" - Again, asking for help to overcome his addiction, using the 'animal' as a metaphor for his current state.

"I can’t escape myself" - Saying he can't stop himself. "So many times I’ve lied" - Drug users often deny the truth of their addiction. "But there’s still rage inside" - He's angry at himself for getting this way. "Somebody get me through this nightmare" - He's asking for help during the rehab, describing the withdrawal symptoms as a 'nightmare'.

This was the first 3DG I heard, and I've been a fan ever since, the deep personal meanings from every single song are evidence of Gontier's incredible song writing.

So, much like a lot of other people on here, I agree (after researching) that this song is a reference to his drug addiction and his struggles through rehab. However, what I feel is missing in these explanations is what makes him an "animal" Aside from using the term animal to mean a beast and a monster, also think about how he acts like he NEEDS his drugs, as if an animal were to need water. He would do literally anything for it, and he is willing to put aside morals and believes to become more of an animal, and losing control of his more human free will and aspirations. Becoming something that to him is unrecognizable, and heart wrenching, as he screams from inside the cage of his mind.

I thought it was: "So what if you can see The dark inside of me No one will ever CHANGE This animal I have become Help me believe It's not the real me Somebody help me tame this animal"

but maybe I'm mistaking..

I think this sogns about anger manament that he is producing...like he needs anger help....cuz ehs trying to not flip our or spazz...but it jsut happends...cuz hes got all this rage...and now ones trying to help him there just all saying woh buddy you got anger problems....

yeah everyone has a load of shit inside of them, maybe from stuff thats happened in the past. and everyone wants someone to help them through it, to get over it, to get back to the good times, he wants someone to love him, to see him for who he is. love the bass to this song. hes confused because he wants someone to change him, but deep down he knows he cant change... dont bother having a go at me if im wrong. just my opinion :P

I thought it was about a person who changed - and not for the better...

I think it's more about a person who has hidden their inner feelings and thoughts about the outer world, their anger towards people. But it builds up so much that the person snaps and they just doesn't care anymore. Thus the sentence, "So what if you can see, the darkest side of me!" They've hidden that side for so long but when they turn into the side that they've hated for so long. It's the dark side talking through this whole song. Like in the beginning "I can't escape this hell," It is the dark side talking how it is not able to expose it's true self. But soon when it does, the person is unable to control themselves. Let me know what you think.

I think it's about this person, who maybe a few years back was sweet innocent etc, but something dark has become of them, and they're trying to hide it. They want hlp with the animal inside, but is afraid to hurt someone. "So what if you can see the darkest side of me? No one would ever change this animal I have become And we believe it's not the real me Somebody help me tame this animal I have become And we believe it's not the real me Somebody help me tame this animal" I believe the chorus is the person kind of saying, you know, so what if I'm like this? They are kind of accepting themselves, but they still feel the need of someone to help them 'tame' the animal inside.

But seriosly, this is the one of the two songs that got me into TDG. (Other was Time of Dying)