Let's point out a few elements of this song:
-Subject being tortured by some inner-anguish ("burning in my head")
-Subject convinced they are-- in some way, shape, or form--"forever"
-Reoccurring imagery of dirt/earth
Here's what I think: the subject (probably Kurt, right?) feels seemingly eternal torment. Torment, itself, seems to be an everlasting experience: not just for the subject, but in a historical perspective (think of all the war and devastation in world history...and this is an OLD world). Because the subject has this torment inside them, they feel this Romantic (think: Emerson or Thoreau) link between themselves and the earth, hence the "tortured earth I tread" and the lines "Wash it all away/In the dirt/In my filth." Notice, first of all, he equates "dirt" with his own filth. Also notice that the "wash it all away" lyric is akin to a baptismal experience: there's something seemingly holy about being baptised by the earth, which brings us back to this Romantic notion of life and salvation.
This might be my all-time favorite Crowbar song.
Let's point out a few elements of this song: -Subject being tortured by some inner-anguish ("burning in my head") -Subject convinced they are-- in some way, shape, or form--"forever" -Reoccurring imagery of dirt/earth
Here's what I think: the subject (probably Kurt, right?) feels seemingly eternal torment. Torment, itself, seems to be an everlasting experience: not just for the subject, but in a historical perspective (think of all the war and devastation in world history...and this is an OLD world). Because the subject has this torment inside them, they feel this Romantic (think: Emerson or Thoreau) link between themselves and the earth, hence the "tortured earth I tread" and the lines "Wash it all away/In the dirt/In my filth." Notice, first of all, he equates "dirt" with his own filth. Also notice that the "wash it all away" lyric is akin to a baptismal experience: there's something seemingly holy about being baptised by the earth, which brings us back to this Romantic notion of life and salvation.
I guess I just have a thing for you. :-)
I guess I just have a thing for you. :-)