Others got this mostly right, It IS about abuse done to a child by a parent. I don't see anything in the lyrics to say that it is specifically sexual abuse, but the video had a father molesting his son, if I remember right, so there's that... Anyway, I always thought it could refer to any kind of abuse as the song is written... But here is a line-by-line breakdown so you can fully understand…
“Forgotten things remembered”
This refers to repressed memories…
“The tigers eat their young”
refers to idea that the abuser is damaging his own offspring.
“The body stayed but inside the head
The mind was on the run”
This illustrates emotional state at the moment of the abuse. Inside his head, he is in flight mode, but the person abusing him is his guardian, so running isn’t a real option and the body just freezes.
“A conspiracy of silence”
Refers to how they tell him not to tell anyone and how enablers support the silence…
“The only way out of pain
Is turn around, run through it man"
My take on this is that he is saying that the best way to deal with it is to just take it… face it and take the pain… think about it, if you know pain is coming, and there is nothing you can do about it, you prepare yourself and take it the best you can…
"Too wet to come in from the rain,”
refers to the irreversible damage that has already been done… The rain is both sadness and the proveyor of damage. he is wet because the storm has damaged him.... he is damaged, so he is sad (in the rain)... I think that this is what it is meant to mean.
“Tell them...
I know they were doing it to you
But don't try doing it to me”
Refers to the cycle of violence, while giving us a window into the anger that person experiences, and giving recommendation to potential listeners for how to stand up for themselves all at the same time. Quite eloquent IMO.
“Let me show you, how I love you
It's our secret, you and me
But keep it in the family tree
The secret of the family tree”
Refers to how abusers often justify their abuse by claiming that they do it out of love. And the irony of having to keep “love” a secret…
“When you hear them saying "trust me"
Don't wait to see what's next”
Refers to the fact that the you can’t trust a person who lies to you, and another reference to the abuse itself.
“Thrown to the wolves
Forever trusting
Raised in a form of living hell”
Refers to the fact that there is nobody protecting this child’s interests, and the horror that growing up this type of environment is. An environment where the people who you depend on as a vulnerable child are the ones that hurt you. That is why the focus on trust… because it is a confusing issue for the child.
“Sing a one note song of rage”
AAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!
“Live and die within your heart”
Refers to the isolation…
“So beware in the shadows
Your family tree waits in the dark”
Refers to the fact that this violence exists in your roots, either biological or psychological, or both… even if you hide it or try and run away from it, that violence is you… It is something that will affect you forever, and you can’t escape it. Whether you are just forever traumatized, or you become an abuser yourself, the effect of it will always be there.
It is quite heavy and dark, and I can understand why people avoid such messages. But I see this song as a positive take on the situation. It isn’t supporting the conspiracy of silence… it is acknowledging the existence of violence and encouraging people to stand up to it… It is illustrating the damage done, so society will fight for our defenceless children, and not make excuses for abusers.
Others got this mostly right, It IS about abuse done to a child by a parent. I don't see anything in the lyrics to say that it is specifically sexual abuse, but the video had a father molesting his son, if I remember right, so there's that... Anyway, I always thought it could refer to any kind of abuse as the song is written... But here is a line-by-line breakdown so you can fully understand…
“Forgotten things remembered” This refers to repressed memories…
“The tigers eat their young” refers to idea that the abuser is damaging his own offspring.
“The body stayed but inside the head The mind was on the run” This illustrates emotional state at the moment of the abuse. Inside his head, he is in flight mode, but the person abusing him is his guardian, so running isn’t a real option and the body just freezes.
“A conspiracy of silence” Refers to how they tell him not to tell anyone and how enablers support the silence…
“The only way out of pain Is turn around, run through it man" My take on this is that he is saying that the best way to deal with it is to just take it… face it and take the pain… think about it, if you know pain is coming, and there is nothing you can do about it, you prepare yourself and take it the best you can…
"Too wet to come in from the rain,” refers to the irreversible damage that has already been done… The rain is both sadness and the proveyor of damage. he is wet because the storm has damaged him.... he is damaged, so he is sad (in the rain)... I think that this is what it is meant to mean.
“Tell them... I know they were doing it to you But don't try doing it to me” Refers to the cycle of violence, while giving us a window into the anger that person experiences, and giving recommendation to potential listeners for how to stand up for themselves all at the same time. Quite eloquent IMO.
“Let me show you, how I love you It's our secret, you and me But keep it in the family tree The secret of the family tree” Refers to how abusers often justify their abuse by claiming that they do it out of love. And the irony of having to keep “love” a secret…
“When you hear them saying "trust me" Don't wait to see what's next” Refers to the fact that the you can’t trust a person who lies to you, and another reference to the abuse itself.
“Thrown to the wolves Forever trusting Raised in a form of living hell” Refers to the fact that there is nobody protecting this child’s interests, and the horror that growing up this type of environment is. An environment where the people who you depend on as a vulnerable child are the ones that hurt you. That is why the focus on trust… because it is a confusing issue for the child.
“Sing a one note song of rage” AAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!
“Live and die within your heart” Refers to the isolation…
“So beware in the shadows Your family tree waits in the dark” Refers to the fact that this violence exists in your roots, either biological or psychological, or both… even if you hide it or try and run away from it, that violence is you… It is something that will affect you forever, and you can’t escape it. Whether you are just forever traumatized, or you become an abuser yourself, the effect of it will always be there.
It is quite heavy and dark, and I can understand why people avoid such messages. But I see this song as a positive take on the situation. It isn’t supporting the conspiracy of silence… it is acknowledging the existence of violence and encouraging people to stand up to it… It is illustrating the damage done, so society will fight for our defenceless children, and not make excuses for abusers.
[Edit: improved the rain part.]