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Cobra Tattoo Lyrics
Sun just clearing the tree line when my day begins
Slippery ice on the bridges, Northeastern wind coming in
You will bruise my head, I will strike your heel
Drive past woods of northern pine, try not to let go of the wheel
Dream at night, girl with the cobra tattoo
on her arm, its head flaring out like a parachute
Prisms in the dewdrops in the underbrush
Skate case sailors' purses floating down in the black needlerush
Higher than the stars I will set my throne
God does not need Abraham, God can raise children from stones
Dream at night, girl with the cobra tattoo
And try to hear the garbled transmissions coming through
Song Info
Submitted by
mdon06 On Jul 12, 2006
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I'm not really sure what this song means... I'm really not good at interpreting things unless I think for a long time on them. I just wanted to say that Darnielle's ability at painting a portrait is absolutely amazing. With this wispy, disjointed but soothing music I can just shut my eyes and see everything.
Pretty sure this is a song about the devil, or at least a guy who identifies with the devil. Beyond the obvious snake imagery, there are a couple Bible passages referenced: "he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel" is part of the sentence passed on the serpent after the fall from Eden, and the part about raising the throne above the stars is from a passage about the devil. Even the opening line - "sun just clearing the treeline" - might be a reference to "Morningstar".
As Claedalus says, there's a passage in genesis referred to here, in Genesis 3 specifically. There is also a reference to Matthew 3. Both these chapters mention serpents (the serpent in the garden, Jesus calls the Pharisees vipers). Notice "YOU will bruise my head, I will strike your heel" i.e. the speaker is the serpent.
Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
Matthew 3:9 "And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."