The Animal

Alright this is my take. How I interpret the song and what it means to me. I’m not saying this is how the band “intended” it but it’s how I relate.

This is a song about someone whom has been abused. Physically, mentally, whatever. They’re a good person, they keep all of the pain and abuse inside, they don’t retaliate but they’ve been pushed so far that they can’t hold back anymore. They’ve finally been broken by their abuser and now it’s all coming crashing down. I can feel the animal inside My resolve is weakening Pounding on the doors of my mind Its nearly overpowering I cannot begin to describe The hunger that I feel again Run if you intend to survive For the beast is coming to life

(The animalistic urge to fight back and take action has become overwhelming. Part of him doesn’t even want to restrain it. He wants to give himself over to his primal urges)

Taking more than a glimmer of this tainted moonlight Death approaches on this night

For the animals soul is mine We will be completed right before your eyes I have no control this time And now we both shall dine in Hell tonight

(He’s giving himself over to his animal nature. Accepting the darkness within himself even if he knows it’s “wrong.”)

I can feel the calling again The primal need is filling me Changes are about to begin And now my blood is boiling I can see the fear in your eyes But you can’t bring yourself to scream Time to shed the mortal disguise The beast is coming to life Taking more than a glimmer of this tainted moonlight Death approaches on this night

(The abuser is shocked that their victim is consumed in rage. The savage appearance of the victim terrifies them and it is at this moment that they know that they will surely die this night.)

For the animals soul is mine We will be completed right before your eyes I have no control this time And now we both shall dine in Hell tonight

We begin the hunt tonight Til the power courses the creatures take flight When the kill is close and I will be satisfied For the smell of fear tonight Wakes an ancient lust that will not be denied You're mine

(His abuser flees but he gives chase. Finally catching them and killing them.)

For the animals soul is mine We will be completed right before your eyes I have no control this time And now we both shall dine in Hell tonight

For the animals soul is mine And the world around will never hear your cries An unholy crime And now we both shall dine in Hell tonight

(He knows he shouldn’t have killed them but he doesn’t care. He accepts his fate, satisfied that he has taken his revenge.)

So yeah that’s my spin on it in a nutshell. I see it as a song of empowerment and the basic struggle of good and evil within ourselves… the suppression of our primal urges and the secret desire to simply give oneself over to them.