Can you smell the rot?
As opportunity knocks.
The foul stench of success.

This carcass in decay,
Well past it's sell-by date.
This time the fall comes before the pride.

The chameleon's changed its shade,
But the same old song, to the same old tune is played.
Falling to the bait,
But the song still sounds the same.
Let's rot ...C'mon, rot!

This carcass in decay,
Tell me, can you smell the rot?

[lead - Steer]

The chameleon's changed its shade,
But the same old song, to the same old tune is played.
Kill me, it's unbrave
But the song remains the same.
Let's rot, let's rot ...C'mon, rot!

Commiserations or celebrations of a rejuvenation?
Commiserations or celebrations of a rejuvenation?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Carcass's song Rot 'n' Roll are a commentary on the state of the music industry and the concept of selling out. The first verse is a metaphor for the way that success can often come at the cost of artistic integrity, as the "rot" represents the decay of that integrity. The "opportunity" represents the chance to make it big, but the "foul stench of success" suggests that it comes at a price. The idea of a "sell-by date" suggests that the band in question has been around for a while and is starting to lose relevance.

The second verse continues this theme, implying that the band has attempted to change their image and sound to stay relevant, but has ultimately failed. The line "falling to the bait" suggests that they were lured in by the promise of success, but in doing so, they sacrificed their authenticity. The repetition of "let's rot" and "can you smell the rot" reinforces the idea of decay and a lack of vitality.

The final lines of the song: "Commiserations or celebrations of a rejuvenation? Commiserations or celebrations of a rejuvenation?" are a provocative way to end the song. It's not entirely clear what the band means by this, but it could be interpreted as a question about whether or not it's possible to regain artistic integrity after selling out.

Line by Line Meaning

Can you smell the rot?
As an opportunity presents itself, the decay of a dying entity emanates an unpleasant odor.

As opportunity knocks.
The smell of decay is an indicator of potential success.

The foul stench of success.
The success comes from circumstances that others would view with revulsion.

This carcass in decay,
The subject of the song is a dying or dead thing, which no longer has any value.

Well past it's sell-by date.
The subject of the song has exceeded its shelf life and is no longer desirable.

This time the fall comes before the pride.
The loss and degradation occur before any indication of accomplishment or success.

The chameleon's changed its shade,
The subject of the song has undergone a transformation or appears different, but it still has the same essence as before.

But the same old song, to the same old tune is played.
Despite outward changes, the fundamental nature of the subject remains unchanged.

Falling to the bait,
The subject is trapped by the same tactics that have worked before.

But the song still sounds the same.
Despite efforts to change, the same underlying issue persists.

Let's rot ...C'mon, rot!
The song encourages the decay of the subject, heralding its inevitable demise.

Tell me, can you smell the rot?
The repugnant odor indicates the continued decay of the subject, inviting further destruction.

[lead - Steer]
Instrumental break by lead guitarist Michael Amott and rhythm guitarist Bill Steer.

Kill me, it's unbrave
Continued pursuit of the same tactics in the face of certain failure is a self-destructive and unwise choice.

Commiserations or celebrations of a rejuvenation?
The song leaves the interpretation of the outcome to the listener: Is the subject to be mourned, or is there hope for a new beginning?

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