Snakes
Apulanta Lyrics


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We'll go together into the dark woods
Sinking with wise old tree roots
How I want to unlearn

I don't want old branches no more
Every tooth is broken
And all of the flesh is burnt
I've wounded my side
And I've wound in my hide

Don't ask what is the price of my hand
Would you be queen of my land?
When everyone else is gone

Fire, making my way much harder
All of this time I'm after
Images of my soul

And I've wounded my side
And I've wounded my hide
And I've got snakes in my eyes
And I've got snakes in my mind, mind

Peace of my mind is cast in iron
Come on now baby, ride on
Down to the root of life, life

No, no, don't give me more of your glow
Come on now baby, ride on
Down the joys of my night, night

And I've wounded my side
And I've wounded my hide
And I've got snakes in my eyes
And I've got snakes in my mind, mind

No, no, ..., die
I'm not too far down
I'm not too far gone

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Apulanta's song Snakes create a foreboding atmosphere, taking the listener on a journey with the singer into the dark woods. The following lines depict a desire to unlearn, a wish to let go of old patterns and ways of being. The imagery of the wise old tree roots sinking symbolizes an opportunity for growth and transformation by going deep into oneself. The chorus reveals that the singer has been wounded both outwardly and inwardly, and their mind is plagued by snakes - perhaps an allegory for the sins and temptations of the world. The singer asks if someone would be willing to remain by their side while they deal with this internal turmoil.


In the second half of the song, the singer describes the difficulty of their journey, made all the more arduous by the fires of life that burn within them. Despite this, they reveal that they are not too far gone, a sign of their resilience and will to live. The final lines ask not to be given more light, but instead to have the listener accompany them as they ride into the night, presumably towards further self-discovery and transformation.


Overall, the lyrics of Snakes are poetic and evocative, creating a vivid image of the internal turmoil and transformation of the singer. The use of natural imagery, such as tree roots, fire, and snakes, adds layers of symbolism to the song, allowing for multiple interpretations.


Line by Line Meaning

We'll go together into the dark woods
I want to experience life's hardships with you, hand in hand


Sinking with wise old tree roots
I want to learn from the roots, the foundation of the world


How I want to unlearn
I want to forget it all and start anew


I don't want old branches no more
I want to get rid of my old, decaying ways


Every tooth is broken
I have lost my strength and my bite


And all of the flesh is burnt
I am damaged and hurt beyond repair, emotionally and physically


I've wounded my side
I have suffered and been hurt in the past


And I've wound in my hide
I have concealed my wounds, and my scars run deep


Don't ask what is the price of my hand
I have nothing left to offer, nothing to give


Would you be queen of my land?
Can I trust you to be the ruler, to lead me to safety?


When everyone else is gone
In times of distress, I know I can rely on you


Fire, making my way much harder
The passion within me is the very thing that is causing me pain


All of this time I'm after
I am chasing after something, but I don't know what it is


Images of my soul
What is left of me is only a shadow, a mirage of what I used to be


And I've got snakes in my eyes
I am watching everyone, suspicious and curious of their motives


And I've got snakes in my mind, mind
My mind is weaving tales of deceit and betrayal, I can't shake off these thoughts


Peace of my mind is cast in iron
I have made up my mind, and I'm not changing my stance


Come on now baby, ride on
Let's take a journey together, and see where life takes us


Down to the root of life, life
I want to understand life, and its beginnings


No, no, don't give me more of your glow
I don't want your sympathy, just let me be


Down the joys of my night, night
Let's explore the dark corners of my mind, where nothing is as it seems


No, no, ..., die
I refuse to give up, I won't let death come for me just yet


I'm not too far down
I still have some fight left in me, I'm not completely defeated


I'm not too far gone
I can still be saved, there's still hope for me




Contributed by Bella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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