Shiver
Abnegation Lyrics
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Under she shivers
Crying in the shadows
The walls surround
Victimized by man
Her lifeless body lays
Cold hand carresses her face
Muffling her screams
Her innocence lost
Weeping a million tears
Falling from her eyes
Rolling of her cheeks
We let her die
She shivers...
The lyrics to Abnegation's song "Shiver" is an incredibly intense and emotional account of a woman who has been raped and left to die. The imagery of "blood-stained sheets" and "shivering" creates an atmosphere of fear and dread. The woman is "crying in the shadows" and "surrounded by walls," making her feel trapped and alone. Despite her cries for help, the man who victimized her covers her mouth and muffles her screams, leaving her to suffer and die alone. The lyrics tell a heartbreaking story of a young girl who had her childhood stolen and is now left to suffer in the shadows.
The lyrics are poignant and powerful, and they speak to the devastating effects of sexual assault. The artist does an excellent job of capturing the emotions and feelings of helplessness that come with such trauma. The haunting melody and lyrics send an important message about the lasting impact of sexual assault on its victims.
Line by Line Meaning
Blood stained sheets
The evidence of the horrible acts done to her are visible on the bed
Under she shivers
The girl is still trembling, possibly from the trauma she has experienced
Crying in the shadows
She is alone and cannot find solace from her pain
The walls surround
The location of where the girl is contained her and made it easy for her abusers to commit their heinous act
Victimized by man
The girl has fallen victim to the cruel actions of men
Her lifeless body lays
She has been broken by what has happened to her and cannot feel empowered in any way
Cold hand carresses her face
Even the warmth of human touch is twisted in the context of the violence she's faced
Muffling her screams
Any attempt she made to plead with her abusers was blunted, making the experience even worse
Her childhood raped
Not only her body but any chance of her leading a proper life was taken away by what she suffered
Her innocence lost
Whatever sense of purity and wholesomeness she had is stripped away from her
Weeping a million tears
She is traumatized and unable to deal with the emotional fallout of what has happened
Falling from her eyes
The tears are a sign of her suffering and the hopelessness she feels in light of what happened
Rolling of her cheeks
The tears she shed are a reminder of the pain she experienced at the hands of others
We let her die
Society as a whole refused to acknowledge her pain or support her in her hour of need, which makes them complicit in her suffering
She shivers...
She is still suffering from PTSD from the traumatic event that she faced, it may never pass
Contributed by Zoe L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.