The Leper Affinity Lyrics

Lyric discussion by thechopeur 

Cover art for The Leper Affinity lyrics by Opeth

Ok Ok Ok... I created an account just for this song. I've listen to this so many times and saw the lyrics even more often. First of all YES ! it's about rape and murder NO there's no leprosy in this. A leper is also and outcast which is the case here. The last sentence confirm it "It was worth it for the wait alone". Is a way to say, it's my vengeance to the world. Ok lets take the lyrics part by part.

"We entered Winter once again" Keep in mind that's the first lyrics of the album, it means we forgot the happy ending of still life : this is gonna be raw and cold, like winter.

"Naked, freezing from my breath" Have you ever felt the breath of someone in your neck ?

"Neath the lid all limbs tucked away This coffin is your abode from now" He's above, she can't move

"Your body is mine to avail Such a tragic sight you are Slave under my creed Spurring me with those tears" This is were insanity begins, feeling all powerful makes him bursting in madness

"I am beyond death" A lot of murderers, rapists etc... felt the same when they commited their crimes, feeling like god because you play with the life of someone

"Midst a dreaming affinity Saving strength now, faint whispers Come erotic communion in its splendour Fever mirrored ghosts" She lost strength and resigned to fight, she let him do the dirty job, he fucks her

"Night time consolation, cross the line Draw murder into art Sleep inside through days In the wake of this relief Shivering, longing for more Insanity at it's peak Love me to my death" He kills her, obvious enough : night means death, "cross the line" "Insanity at it's peak"

"Lost are days of Spring You sighted and let me in Keep the beast inside Shackled within my hide Screaming out too late Losing to my hate Grew together with your skin And paced the trails of sin" I can pretty much see the scene clearly. His madness stoped, he stand amazed, got scared. Then he talk to her, yell, and tell her it's her fault. MAAAAN i can almost see his eyes, in a mix of surprize, fear and anger.

"Your gaze covered with virgin snow Rigid features It's the shallow deeds who is to blame Deafening shrieks pierced the night A step from oblivion Moving into the dim lights Hiding within a reverie" He now looks at the body, starting to get covered by fresh snow, the beauty of the white constrast with the horror of the murder. He feels like in a dream, unreal.

"It was worth it for the wait alone" Like a cry against sociaty that made him an outcast.

This song is perfect and very vivid

@thechopeur Great analysis, but now I made an account just to reply to this! HAHAH

For me it seems obvious that actually the woman got pregnant!

"You sighted and let me in Keep the beast inside Shackled within my hide Screaming out too late Losing to my hate Grew together with your skin And paced the trails of sin"

Keep the beast inside, shackled (tied, bonded to) within my hide (do you realize what is this that he's calling his 'hide'?) Grew together with your skin and paced the trails of sin. - This actually confirms the following idea:...

@thechopeur Winter can relate to death in poetry, and the lines about lost Spring suggest that is about death too.

I think some of your interpretations are good, but on others you have missed the ball park completely.