Lyric discussion by arandomthought 

Cover art for Need lyrics by At the Gates

The overall theme of the album is technology as original sin and how it poisons society and destroys the individual's soul.

The song itself follows up on Nausea and contrasts the increased dependence on medical practice and surgical technology as civilization develops and the individuals ages and how the soul of the individual and the morals of society are destroyed over that period.

It's a fairly common Swedish Death Metal theme.