Deadman

First, I agree - Karnivool's lyrics are designed for personal interpretation. Secondly, I think your interpretation of the song makes sense in terms of the "overlaying subject" within the context of the song "Deadman". What I find fascinating, however - perhaps even brilliant in its own way - is that the CD as a whole carries a message about tomorrow. Each song, for me, alludes in some way to the need to move forward in a new and different way - out of the shadows to a new day. And in that sense, I find each song carries or presses or pushes a message of hope. The last stanza (chorus - who knows - they don't write in a traditional way) of Deadman - "Still I remind myself, how I define myself, I needed to know") emphasises two things:

1. That all experiences are worthwhile, because in the end, we are who are because of what we've done
2. I am me, I know better now what that means, and I can face tomorrow with more optimism.

In that context, even the Gregorian chant at the end of Deadman can be seen as the death of the past, which then brings into context the hope of tomorrow.

And the music is moving too!

This is absolutely crazy I tell you...Such pieces of musically absolutely sublime pieces of art a rare to encounter, I agree...There's not many pieces that sound this unchallengable good! I'm not good at making out words in songs, and change pt 2 is only the second song I have listened to from this album, but for one it's amazing to see how they evolved from themata by making songs this long...Should be nice to listen to in bed ;) Also, the drumming is intangibly complex.. Well then, this is just to reiterate my personal appreciation..Not that you could care :) I guess the ablum's title "sound awake" could allude to "sound aware" as some sort of joke but sound awake also indicates that this character you guys speak of has found a new emotional clarity or maturity and realization. And yeah, it's probably all about a girl in the end :P

Simple Boy is moving on in his path of freedom, the song shows that he is starting to get to the end of the line, he is starting to know the truth about the system and society, but he and his partner aren't sure to walk away because is a really hard decision to walk away and forget all you know.

"Blessed with a curse Hoping not far The deeper, the better

I needed I needed to know I needed I needed to know, why"

In my opinion this part shows that Simple boy is blessed with the curse of knowledge, (is a curse because the truth shows that everything is a game and all the people is a slave) and he can't stand the fact that everything he believed before is a lie, but in the end he realizes that he needed to know, to break the chains and be finally free.

I think all the album is about the story of Simple Boy and his choice to be free.

epic song... just saw this guys in concert. this song was so powerful live. i swear kenny was about to cry towards the end when he sang it.

to me this songs feels like at's about life not always turning out the way it should. being disappointed or hurt and trying to move on.

First off, I must say that, like most of Karnivool's lyrics, the door is ajar for interpretation. So here's mine, completely derivative to my perspective (so feel free to refute)

Message, overlying subject: emotional turmoil, defunct relationships, introspection, self-reform

First Stanza: Having a sudden desire to reform oneself; I believe we have all been there after a bad breakup (I'm not good enough for this person, how can I be suitable for anyone else in my current state then?)

Second Stanza: Summarization of introspective creed; The divine "I" ; only the self is completely in tune with one's being; I cannot let myself bend to another's standards (a cheering up of sorts, finding self confidence)

Third Stanza: Remembering the pain of a relationship, or feeling the harsh blow of nostalgia ("Blessed with a curse" could allude to personal faults, wishing death upon himself, perhaps reverting to a bad habit like drinking Cough Umbra Cough)

Fourth Stanza: A command, a desperate plea to know what it is that makes him flawed, and what makes him unworthy of the other person, which seems to make the narrator fall further into the torrent of despair.

Fifth Stanza: The narrators feelings towards the other party (you cause me nothing but hardship and suffering now, and everytime I see you I want to do anything in my power to make your presense not be felt)

I will be analyzing this further, but this will do for now. Please let me know what you think of my interpretation :)

This song is truly epic.

To me it seems to go through various stages of a breakup... self pity, anger, nostalgia, acceptance.

This album is interesting in the way that they usually don't make the song very obvious, you have to listen and think about the lyrics and see what they tell you

There is something I thought worthwhile to mention. The second to last line of the "Change" lyrics repeated from the last song on the Themata album are different. Instead of what he says from Themata, "Would you care to stare me down?", he actually says "Would I care to stare you down?". Maybe this is representing his newly changed perspective? Not really shure but I thought it was worth mentioning. And why is on this album it not the last lyrics like on the previous album? Maybe because the last song on this album "Change [Part 2]" now expounds upon this new perspective further and brings in a new light for the future? Opinions?

Because of the depth of the Lyrics I personally feel these songs are memoirs of Ian's past, and his hope for the future.

The ambiguous style and the missing story is typical of someone describing past emotions, missing points as they fill the story in their own head. In this way, Ian creates lyrics that people can project themselves into, filling the gaps with their own life story and thereby create their own memoir that they connect too. This is the Magic of Karnivool.

I know that I for one have found these songs incredibly illuminating. This album brought me back from a very dark place in my life.

What... These lyrics are way off.

I think Deadman and Change could be about a psychadelic trip. Deadman could be a song about ego death - "still i remind myself how i define myself (i needed to know)" it's like he doesn't want to let go of his ego and he's scared of experiencing something beyond himself, but it's his curiosity that got him here, and now he must let go. Change, i think, is about a breakthrough, when he loses the sense of self and how he realizes that sound is what makes us and everything around us.