Eyes Of A Criminal
Chimaira Lyrics

of despair
A victim of your wicked ways

The lyrics of Chimaira's song "Eyes of a Criminal" express the intense anger and resentment of a protagonist who has experienced neglect, blame, and injustice. The opening lines suggest that the singer has been suppressing their true thoughts and emotions, but is now embracing them fully. They refuse to be scapegoated or misunderstood any longer, and their rage is all-consuming. The line "You can't disguise this rage" indicates that the singer is no longer trying to hide their fury or pretend that everything is okay.

The second verse explores the singer's backstory, suggesting that they come from a "broken home" and have been left to their own devices. They call out their abuser for using flimsy excuses instead of taking responsibility for their actions. The line "Don't bullshit me" is a direct challenge to the abuser's lies and manipulations. The use of fire imagery ("engulfed in flames / incinerate") adds to the intensity of the lyrics and suggests that the singer is ready to burn everything down in order to get revenge.

The chorus ("I've got your back against the wall / Forever trapped / Staring through the eyes of a criminal") adds a sense of claustrophobia and paranoia to the mix. The singer feels cornered and trapped, unable to escape the consequences of their actions (or inaction). The reference to "the eyes of a criminal" suggests that the singer feels like society has already judged them unfairly and will never see them as anything other than a criminal or miscreant, regardless of what they do. Overall, the lyrics paint a bleak picture of emotional turmoil and injustice, but they also suggest a willingness to fight back and demand justice for oneself.