Hell Is Chrome
Wilco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was not red
He was chrome and he said
Come with me
You must go
So I went
Where everything was clean
So precise and towering
I was welcomed
With open arms
I received so much help in every way
I felt no fear
I felt no fear
The air was crisp
Like sunny late winter days
A springtime yawning high in the haze
And I felt like I belonged
Come with me
Come with me
Come with me
Come with me
Come with me
Come with me
Come with me
Come with me
The opening lines of the song 'Hell is Chrome' by Wilco introduce the idea of the devil as not the stereotypical image of a red, horned, fiery creature, but instead as something shiny and polished - chrome. This idea of the devil being something "clean, so precise and towering", is reminiscent of an engineered and technologically advanced environment. When the devil calls on the singer, he invites him to follow him into this world of shiny perfectionism, where everything is in its place, and the air is crisp and clean.
The singer then describes his experience in this world as feeling welcomed with open arms and receiving help in every way. He felt no fear as he was surrounded by the clean and precise environment. The lyrics then hint at the thought that the singer felt a sense of belonging in this world of new and perfect order.
This song is a reflection of the impact of societal pressures and the strive for perfectionism in modern society. It highlights the contrast between the chaos of the real world and the appeal of a flawless, controlled world, where conforming can bring a sense of belonging. The lyrics could also relate to the dangers of selling your soul for conformity to such societal pressures, and the potential for losing your individuality in return.
Line by Line Meaning
When the devil came
A sinister force entices a person
He was not red
This force did not arrive in a traditional, stereotyped form
He was chrome and he said
The force arrived in an unorthodox way
Come with me
The force makes a tempting offer
You must go
The offer comes with an imperative command
So I went
The person succumbs to the temptation
Where everything was clean
The promised destination is pure and orderly
So precise and towering
The destination inspires awe and admiration
I was welcomed
The person is received kindly in the destination
With open arms
The welcome is enthusiastic and warm
I received so much help in every way
The person is aided and supported extensively
I felt no fear
The person loses all apprehension
The air was crisp
The setting is refreshing and invigorating
Like sunny late winter days
The atmosphere is comparable to a transitional period
A springtime yawning high in the haze
A hopeful and promising season seems imminent
And I felt like I belonged
The person finds a sense of belonging
Come with me
The temptation persists
Come with me
The temptation repeats
Come with me
The temptation intensifies
Come with me
The person is constantly implored to follow the path
Come with me
The person faces an ongoing inner struggle
Come with me
The temptation exerts a persistent influence
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JEFF TWEEDY, MIKAEL JORGENSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sacos85
This song is a masterpiece. Pure and simple. Literally.
Chris Walter
Yep
Timothy McPherrin
My favorite wilco song
Jon B Baca
One of my all time favorite guitar solos
Peter Zuppardo
Same
tachycardia
One of the first of theirs to hook me in. This album in its entirety though, I swear. If Yankee Hotel's their unassailable Sgt. Pepper, surely Ghost Is Born's the Revolver; band's high-watermark on a song-for-song basis.
Grant MacIver
this song heals my soul..
Jonathan Baca
One of the Top 10 best guitar solos ever in this song
Jon B Baca
My favorite guitar solo of all time. It's pure emotional pain
charles cowie
Great tune