Clandestiny

I believe this song has a double meaning:

In the story of the Emperor of Sand: he has come to a point in his journey toward death where he has accepted that it is inevitable and is trying to make a deal or a trade to save his skin. I also feel a second meaning that comes from the cancer battles the band were dealing with during the creation of this masterpiece. I feel the character may be talking to the death inside him, the entity that is killing him and asking it to die to save him. Like asking a tumor to die so you can survive.

I battled cancer a few times and I'll tell you this album is pretty spot on with the journey the mind and soul take when you are handed a possible death sentence. I never knew those around you were also walking the same path until I heard this album.

What's this song about? The lyrics are so strong.

These lyrics aren't even correct.

As for the song. How I interpret it is death is calling for someone to let go and come with them where there is no more pain while a living pleads for them to hold on

I like the song's title, Clandestiny. This is not only a play on "clandestine" but also evokes imagery from the words "clan" and "destiny". So to me, this song tells a story where a secretive clan recruits someone to "Give their live".

Silent all your life Running without vision Hollowed out inside Wronging all that's right In this story, the character being spoken to has suffered without a say or guidance: "Silent all you life. Running without vision." "Wronging all that's right" suggests that the character is acting out because he/she was suffering.

There's no cause to be alarmed And no reason to escape from us There's no illness and no pain Have not found any suffering These next few lines are how the "recruiter" describes the clan: "no illness and no pain", "Have not found any suffering".

The road is dark and bare No clarity, no light The moment came and swallowed us Blinding all our sight The recruiter describes how the environment for both of them is "dark and bare," with "no clarity, no light". "The moment" could be the the event or that started the clan; the clan's ideals therefore consumed their "sight".

We will keep you free from dark All you have to do is stand with us I will mend your broken heart And retort the trials that you have lost The clan will do these things, "mend your broken heart" and "retort the trials that you have lost" if the person joins.

Give your life So I can breathe Save your life It's all we need The clan's focus is revealed. It needs the "lives" of its members, literally or metaphorically: organ transplant ("So I can breathe"), vs something like devoting all your energy to the clan. "Save your life" suggests the acting out from the beginning may have included downward spiraling / suicidal thoughts/ behavior. "It's all we need": we don't need your other unique aspects; your "life" for the clan is all we need. This line also downplays "life", as if it was something fungible.

We can be above the ground And devour your humanity Follow me and follow sound To the end of your eternity A few things here. "We can be above the ground": suggests they are living underground right now. Underground in a dark, silent environment. Maybe unveiling itself "above the ground" is another one of the clan's goals. "And devour your humanity": another way of saying "Give your life." "Follow me and follow sound to the end of your eternity": where, "eternity" was an infinite path the character being spoken to was on before, but by following "sound", the character now has a "destiny" or destination, bringing it back to the song title.

Give your life So I can breathe Save your life It's all we need

Give your life So I can breathe Save your life It's all we need

I feel this song illustrates a part of the story of any number of real life people who, once lost and angry, find a cause to join after being absorbed into a clan. It seems like Mastodon is making a statement about the disaffected groups and the atmosphere around the time this song was released, and even two years later today.