The killer lives inside me: yes, I can feel him move.
Sometimes he's lightly sleeping
In the quiet of his room,
But then his eyes will rise and stare through mine;
He'll speak my words and slice my mind inside.
Yes the killer lives.
Angels live inside me: I can feel them smile
Their presence strokes
And soothes the tempest in my mind
And their love can heal the wounds
That I have wrought.
They watch me as I go to fall
Well, I know I shall be caught,
While the angels live.
How can I be free?
How can I get help?
Am I really me?
Am I someone else?
But stalking in my cloisters hang the acolytes
Of gloom
And Death's Head throws his cloak into
The corner of my room
And I am doomed
But laughing in my courtyard play the pranksters
Of my youth
And solemn, waiting Old Man
In the gables of the roof:
He tells me truth
And I too, live inside me and very often
Don't know who I am:
I know I'm not a hero, but
I hope that I'll not die.
I'm just a man, and killers, angels,
Are all me:
Dictator, savior, refugee in war and peace
As long as Man lives
I'm just a man, and killers, angels,
Are all me:
Dictator, savior, refugee

Overall Meaning

"Man-Erg" by Van der Graaf Generator is a haunting and deeply introspective song that delves into the complex psyche of the singer. The song deals with the idea of duality that exists within oneself and how it can be both liberating and challenging. The singer acknowledges the presence of a killer inside him, a malevolent force dormant most of the time but capable of taking control of his mind. This killer is juxtaposed with the presence of angels within him, who bring calm and love, and can heal the wounds the singer has inflicted on himself.

The song questions the concept of identity, as the singer wonders if he is really himself or someone else entirely. He laments the presence of acolytes of gloom in his cloisters, and how the cloak of Death's Head hangs in the corner of his room, a reminder of his inevitable fate. But alongside these morbid thoughts, he remembers the pranksters of his youth, who still play in his courtyard, and the wise old man residing in the gables of his roof, who tells him the truth.

The song ultimately suggests that the singer is just a man, capable of all things, good and bad, and the killers and angels inside him are all a part of his complex identity. As long as man lives, this duality will persist, and the singer hopes to live on, not as a hero, but as a simple man.

Line by Line Meaning

The killer lives inside me: yes, I can feel him move.
There's a part of me capable of killing and it's always present, I can sense it.

Sometimes he's lightly sleeping In the quiet of his room, But then his eyes will rise and stare through mine; He'll speak my words and slice my mind inside.
At times, it seems like the killer within me is dormant, but it can re-emerge and take control of my thoughts and feelings in an instant.

Yes the killer lives.
The killer inside me is an undeniable reality that I can't ignore or deny.

Angels live inside me: I can feel them smile Their presence strokes And soothes the tempest in my mind And their love can heal the wounds That I have wrought.
There's a part of me that's angelic and compassionate, and it can ease my mind during moments of turmoil and also help me to recover from the emotional damage the 'killer' side causes.

They watch me as I go to fall Well, I know I shall be caught, While the angels live.
The 'angels' within me are always present, ready to intervene whenever I face distress or hardship.

How can I be free? How can I get help? Am I really me? Am I someone else?
I feel trapped and uncertain of who I am and what I need to do to free myself from the inner turmoil.

But stalking in my cloisters hang the acolytes Of gloom And Death's Head throws his cloak into The corner of my room And I am doomed
I'm haunted by dark thoughts and feelings that threaten my sanity and well-being, symbolized by the 'acolytes of gloom' and the 'Death's Head' lurking around.

But laughing in my courtyard play the pranksters Of my youth And solemn, waiting Old Man In the gables of the roof: He tells me truth
There are also happy memories and wise voices from the past that can shed light on my situation and provide guidance.

And I too, live inside me and very often Don't know who I am: I know I'm not a hero, but I hope that I'll not die.
I'm a complex and multifaceted person, with conflicting emotions and desires, and sometimes I'm unsure how to reconcile them. However, despite my imperfections, I still desire to live and not give up hope on life.

I'm just a man, and killers, angels, Are all me: Dictator, savior, refugee in war and peace As long as Man lives
I'm just a person, capable of doing good and evil, and my identity is shaped by my experiences and circumstances. I'm not just one thing or the other - I'm a mixture of many things.

I'm just a man, and killers, angels, Are all me: Dictator, savior, refugee
My identity is not straightforward or fixed - I'm capable of assuming many different roles and identities, depending on the situation I find myself in.

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