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Blood and Thunder
Mastodon Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I think that someone is trying to kill me
Infecting my blood and destroying my mind
No man of the flesh could ever stop me
The fight for this fish is a fight to the death

White whale, holy grail
White whale, holy grail

What remorseless emperor commands me
I no longer govern my soul
I am completely immersed in darkness
As I turn my body away from the sun

White whale, holy grail
White whale, holy grail

Split your lungs with blood and thunder
When you see the white whale
Break your backs and crack your oars men
If you wish to prevail

This ivory leg is what propels me
Harpoons thrust in the sky
Aim directly for his crooked brow
And look him straight in the eye

White whale, holy grail
White whale, holy grail

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Mastodon's 'Blood and Thunder' tells a story of a man who believes that someone is trying to kill him as they infect his blood and destroy his mind. He feels like he has lost control over his soul and is immersed in darkness, turning his body away from the sun. The man is on a quest to hunt down the 'white whale', which he sees as the holy grail, on a fight to the death. He is driven by a remorseless emperor and claims that no man of the flesh could stop him.


The chorus stands out as a significant part of the song, repeatedly referring to the white whale as the holy grail. The line, "split your lungs with blood and thunder when you see the white whale" adds intensity to the song and reflects the character's determination to get what he is after. The verse, "this ivory leg is what propels me, harpoons thrust in the sky" shows how the man believes he needs to conquer the whale, aiming directly for its crooked brow, and looking it straight in the eye.


Overall, the lyrics to 'Blood and Thunder' take the listener on a dark, intense journey of a man's quest to hunt down and defeat the white whale, which he sees as the holy grail. The story's imagery is symbolic and powerful, capturing the character's obsession, determination, and relentlessness.


Line by Line Meaning

I think that someone is trying to kill me
The singer feels that they are being threatened and facing danger


Infecting my blood and destroying my mind
The danger the singer faces is affecting them on a physical and mental level


No man of the flesh could ever stop me
The singer is not afraid of physical harm, as it cannot stop them


The fight for this fish is a fight to the death
The artist is in a literal or metaphorical battle where only one party will emerge victorious


White whale, holy grail
The white whale represents a sought-after prize or victory


What remorseless emperor commands me
The singer feels controlled by a merciless force


I no longer govern my soul
The singer has lost control over their own life and choices


I am completely immersed in darkness
The artist feels consumed by negativity and despair


As I turn my body away from the sun
The artist retreats from light and positivity


Split your lungs with blood and thunder
The situation is so intense and dangerous that the artist advises one to give it their all, even if it causes physical harm


When you see the white whale
The victory or success being sought is clearly visible


Break your backs and crack your oars men
The artist urges their allies to work tirelessly and push through extreme physical effort


If you wish to prevail
Success will only come to those who put in the necessary effort and determination


This ivory leg is what propels me
The source of the singer's drive and motivation is a specific thing, represented by the ivory leg


Harpoons thrust in the sky
The singer indicates a tactical move or strategy employed in the fight for victory


Aim directly for his crooked brow
The artist advises a precise, targeted approach to achieve victory


And look him straight in the eye
The artist emphasizes the importance of confronting the enemy and facing them head-on


White whale, holy grail
Reiterated; representing a sought-after prize or victory




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Timothy Brann Dailor, William Brent Hinds, William B. Kelliher, Jayson Troy Sanders

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@fabioriato

SPLIT YOUR LUNGS WITH BLOOD AND THUNDEEEEEEER
WHEN YOU SEE THE WHITE WHAAAAAAAALE
BREAK YOUR BACKS AND CRACK YOUR OARS MEN IF YOU WISH TO PREVAAAAAAAAIL

THIS IVORY LEG IS WHAT PROPELS MEEEEEEEE
HARPOONS THRUST IN THE SKYYYYYYYY
AIM DIRECTLY FOR HIS CROOKED BROW AND LOOK HIM STRAIGHT IN THE EEEEEEEEEEYE

Yup, he absolutely kills it! 🤘



All comments from YouTube:

@knightdados

“Oh,well, I dont know if my boyfriend would like that.”

@Shinyfur5474

"wat?"

@denver376

"Oh, here he comes now!"

@baconmasterleo328

Sup baby

@eldinosaurio225

SPLIT YOUR LUNGS WITH BLOOD AND THUNDER

@Shinyfur5474

"SPLIT YOUR LUNGS WITH BLOOD AND THUNDER!"

73 More Replies...

@calvinanderson4245

"*WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!*" -a girl who made it pretty apparent she's attracted to you

@scarsaturati9705

Wut?

@7kVestra

@@scarsaturati9705 It's crazy because that's literally the last thing the guy Calvin is referencing said before snapping

@mikeoxmall69420

I know this is half a decade old and all, but I came here from that

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