First of all concerning the title of this Slipknot song, the Solway Firth is actually a water body along the coasts of England and Scotland. Indeed a firth is a word from that part of the world used to refer to certain coastal waters. However, this is not what Slipknot seems to be referring to specifically. Rather it has been theorized that the title of the track rather alludes to a famous photograph called the Solway Firth Spaceman. This photo’s claim to fame was based on the its photographer presenting it as one where a ‘spaceman’ miraculously appeared out of nowhere in the background. Of course this claim was eventually proven to be false. But it is the fraudulent nature of that assertion which Slipknot seems to be focusing on. That is to say that the main theme of this track is the singer feeling compelled to present himself as someone he is not. In other words, it seems as if he is addressing someone who wants him to “show (his) whole story” and display “a real smile”. However, the singer is not in such a mood. Indeed it appears as if he is dealing with some sort of depression. And overall he does not seem inclined to share details of his personal life. In all, this song is highly-symbolic in its presentation. Slipknot also brings up the subject of “killers” and refer to some quite-gory imagery. However, considering the analysis above, this may actually be a reference to the media or people who invade the band’s privacy. But who and what they are referring to in particular may just take a while to fully come to light. It is also possible it may never!
@EternalTearsOfSorrow "But it is the fraudulent nature of that assertion which Slipknot seems to be focusing on. That is to say that the main theme of this track is the singer feeling compelled to present himself as someone he is not".
@EternalTearsOfSorrow "But it is the fraudulent nature of that assertion which Slipknot seems to be focusing on. That is to say that the main theme of this track is the singer feeling compelled to present himself as someone he is not".
Good analysis. This made me think of how people who got their pictures taken during the 1800's never smiled for their pictures. I feel like people back then were more real, whereas most people now days just put on a fake smile when they are getting their picture taken. I know that is probably not what was on Cory Taylor's mind when he wrote this song, but the lyrics about smiles in the song just made me think of that, because I basically feel like people are asking me to be fake when they want me to smile for a picture. I don't feel like my smiles are ever real unless I am laughing about something.
First of all concerning the title of this Slipknot song, the Solway Firth is actually a water body along the coasts of England and Scotland. Indeed a firth is a word from that part of the world used to refer to certain coastal waters. However, this is not what Slipknot seems to be referring to specifically. Rather it has been theorized that the title of the track rather alludes to a famous photograph called the Solway Firth Spaceman. This photo’s claim to fame was based on the its photographer presenting it as one where a ‘spaceman’ miraculously appeared out of nowhere in the background. Of course this claim was eventually proven to be false. But it is the fraudulent nature of that assertion which Slipknot seems to be focusing on. That is to say that the main theme of this track is the singer feeling compelled to present himself as someone he is not. In other words, it seems as if he is addressing someone who wants him to “show (his) whole story” and display “a real smile”. However, the singer is not in such a mood. Indeed it appears as if he is dealing with some sort of depression. And overall he does not seem inclined to share details of his personal life. In all, this song is highly-symbolic in its presentation. Slipknot also brings up the subject of “killers” and refer to some quite-gory imagery. However, considering the analysis above, this may actually be a reference to the media or people who invade the band’s privacy. But who and what they are referring to in particular may just take a while to fully come to light. It is also possible it may never!
@EternalTearsOfSorrow "But it is the fraudulent nature of that assertion which Slipknot seems to be focusing on. That is to say that the main theme of this track is the singer feeling compelled to present himself as someone he is not".
@EternalTearsOfSorrow "But it is the fraudulent nature of that assertion which Slipknot seems to be focusing on. That is to say that the main theme of this track is the singer feeling compelled to present himself as someone he is not".
Good analysis. This made me think of how people who got their pictures taken during the 1800's never smiled for their pictures. I feel like people back then were more real, whereas most people now days just put on a fake smile when they are getting their picture taken. I know that is probably not what was on Cory Taylor's mind when he wrote this song, but the lyrics about smiles in the song just made me think of that, because I basically feel like people are asking me to be fake when they want me to smile for a picture. I don't feel like my smiles are ever real unless I am laughing about something.
@EternalTearsOfSorrow The solway Firth Spaceman has never been proved as a fraud. Just saying like.
@EternalTearsOfSorrow The solway Firth Spaceman has never been proved as a fraud. Just saying like.