WE smoke the toenails and hair
Of the wiseman
Under a BLACKGOD's thumb
We dance like painted puppets
She bleeds orgasm in techni-color
An ocean of alien mystery
We eat the wiseman's eyes
For sight that we might
See the darkness if we kill
The lights fast enough
We eat the brain and pray
That our eyes can open wide enough
We burn the dry shell, a funeral chant
The pulse quickens and we dance
As the blossoms fall
A scattering of dust to the winds
This celebration of old skin
I feel every flower that is
Screaming to consume you
The earth and sky your cradle
The earth and sky entomb you
So is the way of forever
Teeming with simple cruelties
Beatings in cold rooms
Hands and head not found

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Acid Bath's song Old Skin are quite cryptic, but there are some themes that are worth exploring. The song opens with a bizarre and grotesque image of smoking the toenails and hair of the wiseman. The wiseman is the symbol of knowledge and wisdom, yet smoking his remains suggests a disdain for his teachings. Also, the reference to the BLACKGOD suggests a darker deity that might be guiding or controlling the actions of the characters in the song. The dancing like painted puppets is another allusion to being manipulated or controlled like marionettes.

The second verse describes a ritualistic cannibalism, where the characters eat the wiseman's eyes and brains to gain some form of insight or understanding. They seem to be trying to see the darkness, as if there is some hidden knowledge or terrible truth that can only be revealed through extreme measures. The funeral chant and the burning of the dry shell might suggest a transformative process, where the old skin is shed and a new identity emerges. The celebration of old skin indicates a rejection of the past and a desire to move on or evolve into something else.

The final verse brings the focus on the listener, who is urged to feel every flower that is screaming to consume them. This seems to reinforce the idea of transformation as a violent and painful experience. The line "hands and head not found" is perhaps the most disturbing image, suggesting a gruesome act of violence committed on someone. It could be interpreted as a warning to the listener, not to resist the transformation, or else they will suffer a similar fate.

Line by Line Meaning

WE smoke the toenails and hair Of the wiseman
We perform dark rituals by using body parts of a wise man, such as toenails and hair.

Under a BLACKGOD's thumb
We are under the dominion of some dark, ominous force.

We dance like painted puppets
We are mindlessly controlled and manipulated, much like puppets.

She bleeds orgasm in techni-color
The female protagonist experiences intense ecstasy and pleasure which is vividly colorful.

An ocean of alien mystery
The enigmatic atmosphere is overwhelming like a vast ocean.

We eat the wiseman's eyes For sight that we might See the darkness if we kill The lights fast enough
We consume the wise man's eyes to gain a different perception of the world, hoping to see the darkness if we act quickly enough and get rid of the light.

We eat the brain and pray That our eyes can open wide enough
We devour the brain, as if to absorb its knowledge, hoping it will help us see more than we currently do.

We burn the dry shell, a funeral chant The pulse quickens and we dance As the blossoms fall A scattering of dust to the winds
We conduct a funeral-like ceremony where we burn the remains of the wise man, and as we dance, the dry shell disintegrates to the winds in the form of ashes.

This celebration of old skin I feel every flower that is Screaming to consume you
The ceremony we perform is a celebration of the old ways, and it feels like every aspect of nature is contributing to consuming and overpowering the wise man.

The earth and sky your cradle The earth and sky entomb you So is the way of forever Teeming with simple cruelties
Nature is both the birthplace and grave of all living beings, and everything is immersed in this cycle of life and death, with simple and brutal outcomes.

Beatings in cold rooms Hands and head not found
The aftermath of the ceremony suggests that something sinister and brutal has occurred, as if someone has been beaten in a cold and harsh environment without any trace of perpetrator or victim's remains.

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