Anthrax's lineup has changed numerous times over their career, leaving Ian as the only constant member of the band. The band has had a revolving cast of singers and lead guitarists, including Neil Turbin, John Bush, Dan Spitz and Rob Caggiano. Since 2013, the band has consisted of Ian, drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello, vocalist Joey Belladonna and lead guitarist Jonathan Donais. Ian and Benante (who replaced one-time drummer Greg D'Angelo in 1983) are the only two members to appear on every album, while Bello has been a member of Anthrax since 1984, replacing original bassist Dan Lilker. After two stints in Anthrax, from 1984 to 1992 and again from 2005 to 2007, Belladonna returned to the band in 2010.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthrax_(American_band)
Studio albums
Fistful of Metal (1984)
Spreading the Disease (1985)
Among the Living (1987)
State of Euphoria (1988)
Persistence of Time (1990)
Sound of White Noise (1993)
Stomp 442 (1995)
Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998)
We've Come for You All (2003)
Worship Music (2011)
For All Kings (2016)
Now its dark
Anthrax Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With me nothing's ever right
Sing for me up on a stage
Keep your mind trapped in a cage
I'm you man I'm what you need
Dance with me but never lead
One deep breath will set me free
Don't you fuckin' look at me
One fuckin' well dressed man !
Now it's dark, but I can see
Don't you fuckin' look at me
Now it's dark, your gonna be
Exactly what I want to see
Now it's dark, Mommy
Don't you fuckin' look at me
A sensation
Of elation
Intoxication
Now it's dark
A candy coated existence
Underneath is decadence
What was hidden you have found
Made it your own battleground
Pretty, pretty, don't say please
Don't you fuckin' look at me
You know that I am...
One fuckin' well dressed man !
Now it's dark, but I can see
Don't you fuckin' look at me
Now it's dark, your gonna be
Exactly what I want to see
Now it's dark, Mommy
Don't you fuckin' look at me
A sensation
Of elation
Intoxication
Now it's dark
I'll send you a love letter
Straight from the bottom of my heart
You'll be fucked forever
The candy coated clown's done his part
I'm your man I'm what you need
Dance with me but never lead
One deep breath will set me free
Don't you fuckin' look at me
You know that I am...
One fuckin' well dressed man !
Now it's dark, but I can see
Don't you fuckin' look at me
Now it's dark, your gonna be
Exactly what I want to see
Now it's dark, Mommy
Don't you fuckin' look at me
A sensation
Of elation
Intoxication
Now it's dark
Now it's dark
Now it's dark
The lyrics to Anthrax’s song Now It’s Dark paint a vivid picture of a controlling, manipulative character who thrives on the power they have over someone else. The opening lines, “In dreams I can rule your life, with me nothing’s ever right,” establish the theme of someone who wants complete control over another person’s life. They want their victim to sing for them on stage, but they want them to keep their mind trapped in a cage. The language in the lyrics is violent and aggressive, with the repeated use of the phrase “Don’t you fuckin’ look at me” indicating that the controlling character is threatened by any attempt at independence or defiance from their victim.
As the song progresses, the darkness deepens. The chorus repeats the line “Now it’s dark” over and over, emphasizing the idea that the character’s control is absolute and all-consuming. The lyrics also suggest that there is something sinister lurking beneath the surface of the candy-coated existence that this character presents to the world. The victim has “found” what was hidden and made it into their own “battleground,” indicating that they may be fighting against the character’s attempts at control.
The song ends with a final declaration of the character’s power, as they send a “love letter” that will “fuck” the receiver “forever.” The lyrics suggest that the character has no remorse for their actions and revels in their power and control.
Overall, the lyrics to Now It’s Dark paint a chilling portrait of a character who thrives on controlling and manipulating others. The violent language and repeated references to darkness emphasize the sinister nature of this character’s power.
Line by Line Meaning
In dreams I can rule your life, with me nothing's ever right
I have the power to control your life in your dreams and nothing will ever be right with me around.
Sing for me up on a stage, keep your mind trapped in a cage
I want you to perform on stage for me, while I keep your mind trapped in a cage of my control.
I'm your man I'm what you need, dance with me but never lead
I am the man you need, dance with me but always follow my lead.
One deep breath will set me free, don't you fuckin' look at me
Taking one deep breath will set me free from my feelings, and don't you dare look at me when I am this way.
You know that I am
One fuckin' well dressed man!
You know that I am a well-dressed man and I demand your attention.
Now it's dark, but I can see
Don't you fuckin' look at me
Even though it's dark, I can still see you and don't you dare look at me.
Now it's dark, your gonna be
Exactly what I want to see
Now that it's dark, you are going to become exactly what I want you to be.
Now it's dark, Mommy
Don't you fuckin' look at me!
Now that it's dark, Mommy, don't you dare look at me!
A sensation
Of elation
Intoxication
Now it's dark!
I am feeling a sense of euphoria and intoxication now that it's dark!
A candy coated existence, underneath is decadence
What was hidden you have found, made it your own battleground
My existence is like a piece of candy with a decadent side underneath. You have discovered what was hidden and made it your own battleground.
Pretty, pretty don't you please, don't you fuckin' look at me
You know that I am
One fuckin' well dressed man!
You may be pretty, but don't try to please me and don't look at me. You already know that I am a well-dressed man.
I'll send you a love letter, Straight from the bottom of my heart
You'll be fucked forever, The candy coated clown's done his part
I will send you a love letter from the bottom of my heart, but it will leave you screwed forever because the candy coated clown has done his part.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLIE L. BENANTE, DANIEL ALAN SPITZ, FRANK JOSEPH BELLO, JOSEPH A. BELLARDINI, SCOTT IAN ROSENFELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Evillive
Jesus… you need your art spoon-fed to you.
Now It’s Dark is about the movie Blue Velvet.
Dominon92
In dreams I can rule your life, with me nothing's ever right.
Sing for me up on a stage, keep your mind trapped in a cage.
I'm your man I'm what you need, dance with me but never lead
One deep breath will set me free, don't you fuckin' look at me
You know that I am...
One fuckin' well dressed man!
Now it's dark, but I can see
Don't you fuckin' look at me
Now it's dark, your gonna be
Exactly what I want to see
Now it's dark, Mommy
Don't you fuckin' look at me
A sensation of elation
Intoxication! Now it's dark!
A candy coated existence, underneath is decadence
What was hidden you have found, made it your own battleground
Pretty, pretty don't say please, don't you fuckin' look at me
You know that I am...
One fuckin' well dressed man!
I'll send you a love letter
Straight from the bottom of my heart
And you'll be fucked forever
The candy coated clown has done his part
I'm your man I'm what you need
Dance with me but never lead
One deep breath will set me free
Don't you fuckin' look at me
You know that I am...
One fuckin' well dressed man!
Eli C
I got a huge nostalgia trip listening to this again. Used to be obsessed with Anthrax and other thrash metal bands in my freshman year of high school. This was one of my favorite songs from Anthrax.
Michael Henderson
I'm on your team, brother. I am 46.
Eli C
@Michael Henderson
Oh nice. I'm 22. :)
James Johnson
I haven't heard this since the 80's.
Steven Stamper
This album and back then DRI's Four of a Kind. "I would like you to have some lunch."
Sylverbullit
That's me exactly! I was a Freshman in '89, listening primarily to Metallica and G&R. A buddy of mine gave me a "tape of a tape" (LOL) of this and I freakin' loved it. This is my favorite song on the album too. Rock on!
𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗮 𝗠
My favorite song in album.
Tommy Karate
Memories.. Damn Anthrax had the best guitar riff intros
the piledriver
I'm 56, still loving this. This shit is right in my wheelhouse. Blessed to be young in this era