Scorpion Flower

Curse the day, hail the night
Flower grown in the wild

In your empty heart
In the breast that feeds
Flower worn in the dark

Can I steal your mind for a while?
Can I stop your heart for a while?
Can I freeze your soul and your time?
Scorpion flower
Token of death
Ignite the skies with your eyes
And keep me away from your light

Surrender tears to your mortal act
Flower cursed be thy fruit
Of your courage last
Of your grand finale
Flower crushed in the ground

In your empty heart
In the breast that feeds
Flower worn in the dark

Can I steal your mind for a while?
Can I stop your heart for a while?
Can I freeze your soul and your time?
Scorpion flower
Token of death
Ignite the skies with your eyes

In your empty heart
In the breast that feeds
Flower worn in the dark

Can I steal your mind for a while?
Can I stop your heart for a while?
Can I freeze your soul and your time?
Scorpion flower
Token of death
Ignite the skies with your eyes

- Moonspell (2008)

Hailing from Portugal, Moonspell has definitely left a mark on the world of metal. Whether it is good or bad is one of the more polarizing topics you will find amongst fans and critics everywhere. A stroll through their catalog reveals an inconsistency that tends to drive people insane. Their last album, Night Eternal, is seen as a high point in their catalog.

Stepping into the unknown is the theme here. Our hero is being beckoned by someone to enter a world unknown to them. "Can I stop your heart, for a while?" is a call for someone to surrender, to trust completely. Our hero seems to want to back out but also laments his falling prey to the call and his inability to resist ("In your empty heart/In the breast that feeds").

The "Scorpion Flower" can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Basically, it is a deadly beauty. For some it can be drugs (eg. poppies) and for others it can be a charismatic leader. Still for more people it can be the lure of a new experience of an exciting yet dark world they have never experienced. The demoness calls, and whatever form she takes, the call is powerful.

Don't let the lyrics fool you too much. If there's one thing I've learned about Moonspell lyrics is they generally go over the top with imagery and this song is no exception. More often than not their lyrics venture into the realm of corny. But I think the prechorus and chorus of this song are powerful enough to negate the over-the-top imagery of the verses.

What do you think, Mardi?

If Your Reading This

If you’re reading this
And My mama's sitting there
Looks like I only got a one-way ticket over here
I sure wish I could give you one more kiss
And war was just a game we played when we were kids
Well I’m laying down my gun
I’m hanging up my boots
I’m up here with God
And we’re BOTH watching over you

So lay me down
In that open field out on the edge of town
And know my soul
Is where my momma always prayed that it would go
And if you’re reading thisI’m already home

If you’re reading this
Half way around the world
I won’t be there to see the birth of our little girl
I hope she looks like you
I hope she fights like me
Stands up for the innocent and the weak
I’m laying down my gun
I’m hanging up my boots
Tell dad I don’t regret that I followed in his shoes

So lay me down
In that open field out on the edge of town
And know my soul
Is where my momma always prayed that it would go
And if you’re reading this
I’m already home

If you’re reading this
There’s gonna come a day
When you move on and find someone else
And that’s okayJust remember this
I’m in a better place
Where soldiers live in peace
And angels sing Amazing Grace

So lay me down
In that open field out on the edge of town
And know my soul
Is where my momma always prayed that it would go
And if you’re reading this
If you’re reading this
I’m already home

Tim McGraw

Well I know my better half isn't going to like the music to this song as it is country but I had to post this one for my baby brother. My brother serves in the US Navy and asked me to post this song. He also asked me to play this for my family if anything happened to him. That's probably one of the hardest conversations I have ever had.

Anyway there isn't much meaning to this song that isn't evident in the lyrics but I wanted to post it with a huge salute to all our service men and women, and to my baby brother. These are the people who are making our lives possible.

Sorry about the long hiatus. I am back now and ready to rock.
Rick, lend us your thoughts.

Take this Life

It's not so much the pain

It's more the actual knife

Pretending the picture is perfect

I cut myself to sleep

I close my eyes for a second

And curse my fragile soul

I scream to hide that I'm lonely

The echo calls my name

If I ever, if I never

Make me understand the thought whatever

Make me see, make me be

Make me understand you're there for me

Take this life, I'm right here

Stay awhile and breathe me in

Take this life, I'm right here

Stay awhile and breathe me in

The rain drops just beg to hit me

What now? Hasn't rained for days

No time to play hide-and-seek

I call on you to take me on

Break me down to pieces

Put me back, do it right this time

Struggling to fill this empty shell

Burn all my efforts

In the end it means nothing

If I ever, if I never

Make me understand the thought whatever

Make see, make me be

Make me understand you're there for me

Take this life, I'm right here

Stay awhile and breathe me in

Take this life, I'm right here

Stay awhile and breathe me in

These thoughts burn a hole in my heart

These thoughts will keep me free and

These thoughts burn a hole in my heart

These thoughts will keep me free and

If I ever, if I never

Make me understand the thought whatever

Make me see, make me be

Make me understand you're there for me

Take this life, I'm right here

Stay awhile and breathe me in

Take this life, I'm right here

Stay awhile and breathe me in

- In Flames (2006)

Sweden's In Flames has been around for a few years and have never really gotten the respect they deserve. I guess it could be because they took the Swedish death metal formula and made it more accessible to a broader metal audience. This particular song is no exception. In 2006 metalcore (a hybrid of heavy metal and hardcore) was the dominant style. "Take this Life" is Swedish Death Metal center with a metalcore wrapper.

This song is sung from the point of view of someone on the edge. Whatever has hurt this person has pushed them into something that will most likely result in self-destruction. This kind of subject matter has been covered before in song, but what sets this apart from the whiny type of songs is the raw fury of emotions that are felt at the do-or-die moment. I had the (mis)fortune of watching a video-taped suicide that a crazed fan sent to Bjork. There was a fire building in this young man's eyes has he read his final statement to Bjork that reached a crescendo right before he pulled the trigger of the gun in his mouth.

While the singer may not yet have his finger on the trigger, he is close to the breaking point. I remember reaching the breaking point of all the crap from "Recognize." I tried to take desperate measures on a couple of occasions to free myself from the overall situation. In both instances my plans were thwarted and I had to find the release another way, but the intensity of this song matches the intensity of hatred, loneliness, and contempt I felt toward one of my problem sources.

There was one person who tried to make me see, to make me believe, but sadly I did not realize it at the time. To be honest, I wasn't quite sure if I could trust this person at that point... that's how alone I felt. This person even offered me an escape from the situation, but since it wasn't on my terms, I turned it down. I was calling for help, but then turning it down when it was offered.

Well, Mardi, here is your second trip into death metal. You may or may not like it, but I still value your opinion. Time to plug my iPod into the line-in port of my car stereo.

Recognize

Well I've had enough
Of these selfish crimes
I hurt myself again
Not knowing why
It seems so easy
To leave it all behind
And avoid the truth I think I'd rather just go blind

Then everything erupts
My life has come unglued
And the ties that bind have left me
What am I to do?

Can't seem to recognize
That stare behing those eyes
Who is this man I see?
Who's looking back at me?
Can't focus through the grey
And I am fading into nothing
The reflection must get clearer

I think I'm cracking up
Like I've lost my mind
I hurt myself again
Still don't know why
I end up the same way
Each and every time
I can't avoid the truth
There's just nowhere to run and hide

Can't seem to recognize
That stare behing those eyes
Who is this man I see?
Who's looking back at me?
Can't focus through the grey
And I am fading into nothing
The reflection must get clearer than it appears to be right now

There must be somone I can see....
There's gotta be something for me
Show it now, let it go free
I know it's there waiting on me
Let it out, let it go free

Can't seem to recognize
That stare behing those eyes
Who is this man I see?
Who's looking back at me?
Can't focus through the grey
And I am fading into nothing
The reflection must get clearer

- Flaw (2005)

Chris Volz is a man full of pain. His adoptive mother committed suicide when he was 12 years old, pretty much leaving him all alone in this world. It could be safe to assume that the pain from the loss of his mother (which is evident in some of his lyrics) has contributed greatly to his struggles with alcohol. His struggles with alcohol and substance abuse have led to him being directly responsible for the breakup of 2 bands (including Flaw). It is the struggles that seem to be on display here in this song.

As with all things, the generality of the lyrics sow a tie that binds a thread that is common in many people. I myself have never really had a problem with alcohol or substance abuse (although I may have been skirting the edge when I was in the Air Force - but that's another song). Where my struggles have come is from emotional pain brought on by stresses that went beyond the normal. Let's just say that in years 16 and 17 of my life I was not in a very good place. It seemed to be everywhere I turned I had no one I could trust and the person I had been to that point was being quickly killed off to become someone whom I wouldn't trust.

I remember after one particularly bad day I was in my bathroom. I looked in the mirror to check my face and just couldn't believe what I saw. I didn't recognize myself at all. Aside from the sudden weight loss that left me looking emaciated, my eyes revealed a darkness thrashing for release. I was a little scared as I had never seen that before. The worst part was I knew I was being pushed in that direction and every time I tried to resist, I was pushed harder. All the crap that I was enduring was slowly building to a head and I needed a way to release or something was going to blow.

Let's just say that I was able to find that release. Instead of a one-time banger, it was like someone had loosened the valve and the steam was slowly escaping. On the other end I came out with a beautiful girlfriend and a new outlook on life.

This song resonates with me because when I first heard the song, I remembered that night I looked at myself in the mirror and saw the direction I was heading. I didn't recognize myself and the ties that bind for me had definitely come unglued. I was lucky in that I found a bit of salvation, but I understand that not everyone is so fortunate.

Well, Mardi, here is one that means a lot to me. What do you think?

Stay

If this world is wearing thin

And you're thinking of escape

I'll go anywhere with you

Just wrap me up in chains

But if you try to go alone

Don't think I'll understand

Stay with me

Stay with me

In the silence of your room

In the darkness of your dreams

You must only think of me

There can be no in between

When your pride is on the floor

I'll make you beg for more

Stay with me

Stay with me

You'd better hope and pray

That you make it safe
Back to your own world
You'd better hope and pray
That you'll wake one day
In your own world
Coz when you sleep at night
They don't hear your cries
In your own world
Only time will tell
If you can break the spell
Back in your own world

Stay with me

Stay with me

- Shakespears Sister (1992)

The first time I heard this song was in 1992. I was watching TV one Saturday morning in my girlfriend's room in the barracks while she was in the shower. At first I thought this was going to be a typical love song fare with a futuristic setting. That impression lasted until Siobhan Fahey came into the video as a female Thanatos. Combine her lyrics ('better hope and pray...') with her raspy, dry voice (which played very well off Marcella Detroit's more operatic tone and style) and the tone of the song becomes much darker and a lot more ominous. I was intrigued by it. Sadly, the song was off my radar for a long time until I came across it again a few weeks ago.

The first verse of the song is that of one extolling her lover not to leave her. But as we switch from the chorus to the second verse the lyrics take a darker tone, going from longing to obsession. And as the bridge of the song hits, obsession turns to a seemingly fatal attraction. It's almost as to say you can try to leave, but chances are against you making your destination. At the end we find the lover begging once again. It's a descent into madness and then a snap back... she definitely makes one hell of an argument as to why he (or she) should stay. This song is definitely a poetic exploration into the darkest depths of a person's heart as they try to maintain control.

I can't pretend that there is any sort of grand lesson to be learned from this song. If there is, I certainly do not see it. I myself have always found the darker content from music to be more interesting. One interesting thing I've found is if you dig beneath the surface of a lot of songs (even popular Top 40 stuff) you will find that many of them come from a dark place. I'm also wondering how many people in 1992 thought this was a corny love song with a synth-pop beat.

Well, Mardi, here's another departure from metal for you. While I adjust the playlists on my iPod, let us know what you think.

Note - The spelling of Shakespears Sister rather than Shakespeare's Sister is correct as this is how Siobhan Fahey intended the name to be spelled.