Man Is A Man
Cradle Lyrics


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As lonely as a poet on the walls of Jericho
Or the moon without the comfort of the stars
I am loathe to know it that a man without a soul
Is nothing but a spilled canopic jar

I proved it
Improved it
Drove a sonnet
Right through it
And in this state of bliss
Evil kissed with wet lips
Pen-filled Fingertips
Which through me
For through me
Illuminati usually pissed
But with words of some hurts worth
I threw a party that extended God's list

Exciting new flames that my fame would claim for me
Reciting back the almanac of travesties

They call me bad
Mad Caliban with manners
Dangerous to know
A passing fad
Taught in all debauch
In excess and in canto

Grown wild
This child
Whole harems defiled
Faustina's and Mina's
Lady Libertine and her sisters between her

What spread of lies arise when lovers die
Which circle of hell is mine when I arrive

They call me bad
Mad Caliban with manners
Dangerous to know
A passing fad
Taught in all debauch
Crow against the virgin snow


Grown colder, my shoulder
Like a boulder beside her
And bolder, not wiser
My dark seed took up root inside her
That mouldered, where older

Beddings would hold a passionate sigh
But Laudanum and soda
Lord Numb coda
Merited a forest of inherited spite

Fleeing grief for foreign maps
I still played vampire aristocrat
Unloading my gun in hot, promiscuous laps

Then shooting swans in a gondola
I tripped my foot on a fallen star
And there's nothing like a mouthful of Venetian tar
To let you know just who you fucking are

[Ville]
The patron saint of heartache
I can't see my world is falling
The world is falling down
The patron saint of heartache
I Can't see my world is falling
The world is falling down

[Dani]
Everafter can they hear my laughter

[Ville]
The patron saint of heartache

[Dani]
Never craft a better bed of disaster

[Ville]
The Patron saint of heartache

They call me bad
Mad Caliban with manners
Dangerous to know
A passing fad
Taught in all debauch
In excess and in canto


They call me bad
Mad Caliban with manners
Dangerous to know
A passing fad
Whereupon I tell them
To go fuck their mothers





As so....
On my grave

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cradle of Filth's song The Byronic Man are highly poetic and dense with symbolism. The song seems to be about a man who is both deeply flawed and yet somehow elevated by his excesses and indulgences. The opening lines compare the man's loneliness to that of a poet on the walls of Jericho or the moon without stars. The man is said to be "loathe to know" that a man without a soul is nothing more than a spilled canopic jar. The idea of the canopic jar likely refers to ancient Egyptian burial practices, where the internal organs of the deceased were placed in jars to be stored with the body. This metaphor suggests that without a soul, a person is without value or meaning.


The chorus repeats the idea that the man is "dangerous to know" and a "passing fad". He is taught in "all debauch" and is associated with excess and in canto (an Italian word meaning "song" or "poetry"). The image of the man as a "mad Caliban with manners" reinforces the idea that he is both dangerous and uncivilized, but also capable of sophistication and refinement. Throughout the song, there are references to sexual promiscuity, drug use, and violence, all of which seem to be part and parcel of the man's identity.


The song is packed with literary and historical references, including nods to John Milton's Paradise Lost, Shakespeare's The Tempest, and the ancient Greek myth of Faustina. The use of the Illuminati suggests a fascination with secret societies and conspiracy theories. The line "Fleeing grief for foreign maps" could be a reference to Lord Byron himself, the poet who the song's title alludes to. Byron famously traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Middle East, seeking adventure and escape from his personal troubles. The song's exploration of excess, sexuality, and rebellion against social norms all tie into the Romantic ideal of the "Byronic hero", a type of character that Byron himself helped popularize in his writing.


Line by Line Meaning

As lonely as a poet on the walls of Jericho
Feeling isolated and abandoned, akin to a poet standing on the walls of the ancient city of Jericho.


Or the moon without the comfort of the stars
Feeling alone and without support or companionship, much like the moon appears in the night sky without the constellations around it.


I am loathe to know it that a man without a soul
Not wanting to accept that a person who lacks empathy and compassion is worthless, like an empty vessel or container.


Is nothing but a spilled canopic jar
This person is as insignificant and worthless as an ancient Egyptian jar that has lost all its contents when spilled.


I proved it
The artist has evidence to support their belief, indicating that their idea is more than just a feeling.


Improved it
The singer has developed and expanded their idea, building on their earlier conviction.


Drove a sonnet
Creating a poem, particularly one that reflects the singer's emotions, experiences and perspectives.


Right through it
Using their poem to explore, confront and challenge the idea they have about soulless men.


And in this state of bliss
In a state of rapture, perhaps from completing the poem or from the cathartic expression of their feelings and beliefs.


Evil kissed with wet lips
The artist finds pleasure and satisfaction in their darker desires, which are tempting and seductive.


Pen-filled Fingertips
The singer is a prolific writer, using their pen to capture the ideas that swirl around in their head and heart.


Which through me
Their writing is what feeds and sustains the artist, keeping them engaged in life despite the darkness they express.


For through me
Because of the singer's emotive writing and expression, they are empowered to continue living.


Illuminati usually pissed
The secret organizations or groups that hold power and influence are probably upset by the singer's ideas or viewpoints.


But with words of some hurts worth
The singer's written words convey meaningful emotions and experiences, perhaps painful or difficult ones.


I threw a party that extended God's list
By creating and sharing their writing, the artist is inviting others to join them in exploring deep, unsettling truths.


Exciting new flames that my fame would claim for me
The artist is excited by the attention and acclaim their writing is garnering, imagining the bright path ahead for them.


Reciting back the almanac of travesties
The singer is using their writing to remind others of past wrongs or tragedies that have occurred, so that history is not forgotten.


They call me bad
Others judge the singer harshly based on their ideas and writings.


Mad Caliban with manners
The artist is like the character Caliban from Shakespeare's The Tempest, portrayed as a wild and dangerous creature but with a veneer of civility.


Dangerous to know
The artist's ideas and writings are seen as threatening or disruptive to the status quo.


A passing fad
Some view the artist as a temporary fashion or trend that will be forgotten in time.


Taught in all debauch
Exposed to and knowledgeable about various vices and sinful behaviours.


In excess and in canto
Indulging in writing poetry extravagantly, both in terms of content and style.


Grown wild
The singer has developed in a way that is fierce and untamed, perhaps reflecting their unconventional ideas or worldview.


This child
Despite being grown up, the singer still embodies a youthful or childlike spirit that imbues their personality and behaviour.


Whole harems defiled
The singer has engaged in sexual escapades and conquests of multiple women, in a manner that could be perceived as disrespectful or damaging.


Faustina's and Mina's
The names of historical women who may have been associated with or victims of the artist's sexual exploits, adding a sense of gravitas and/or tragedy to the lyrics.


Lady Libertine and her sisters between her
The artist has been with women of varying status and moral character, blurring the lines of propriety and social norms.


What spread of lies arise when lovers die
In the aftermath of a romantic relationship ending, various stories, rumours or falsehoods can come to light, reflecting poorly on the singer or their former partner.


Which circle of hell is mine when I arrive
The singer is aware that their actions and choices may have consequences, and they wonder what kind of punishment or torment they will face after death.


Grown colder, my shoulder
The artist has become more jaded or distant, cutting themselves off from others emotionally or physically.


Like a boulder beside her
Metaphorically, the artist is a heavy and unwieldy presence, impeding the progress or happiness of their female partner.


And bolder, not wiser
The artist has become more confident and assertive, but not necessarily more intelligent or thoughtful.


My dark seed took up root inside her
The singer impregnated a woman, possibly unwillingly or carelessly, leaving behind a legacy that may be painful or traumatic.


That mouldered, where older
As time passed, the relationship or experience rotted or decayed, causing harm or leading to regret.


Beddings would hold a passionate sigh
In the past, the singer and their partner had moments of intense and genuine emotion, symbolized by the shared experience of sleep and rest.


But Laudanum and soda
The singer has turned to dangerous or addictive substances to numb their pain or distract themselves from reality.


Lord Numb coda
Some sort of musical or literary allusion to the singer feeling emotionless or detached, unable to experience empathy or affection.


Merited a forest of inherited spite
The artist has perhaps done things in the past that justify others' anger or resentment towards them, even many generations later.


Fleeing grief for foreign maps
The artist is trying to escape their emotional pain by travelling to new or exotic places, hoping that distance can help them heal or change.


I still played vampire aristocrat
The singer has an affectation for the macabre, enacting a persona of a wealthy and powerful vampire, perhaps as a form of escapism or power fantasy.


Unloading my gun in hot, promiscuous laps
The singer is engaging in sexual or violent activities that are dangerous or reckless, with no real regard for the consequences.


Then shooting swans in a gondola
The artist is committing acts of cruelty or destruction for no apparent reason, causing harm to innocent creatures.


I tripped my foot on a fallen star
The artist encounters some form of bad luck or misfortune, feeling like their destiny or fate is out of their control.


And there's nothing like a mouthful of Venetian tar
The artist has a bitter or unpleasant experience, perhaps literal (tasting tar in Venice) or figurative (encountering deceit or betrayal).


To let you know just who you fucking are
The experience of hardship or discomfort can reveal important truths or knowledge about oneself, giving the singer a clearer sense of identity or purpose.


The patron saint of heartache
The artist is a symbol or representative of emotional pain and sorrow, embodying the suffering that others experience.


I can't see my world is falling
Despite being attuned to the suffering and sadness of others, the singer is not able to perceive their own destruction or downfall.


Everafter can they hear my laughter
The singer's legacy or essence continues on even after they die, as evidenced by their laughter echoing still.


Never craft a better bed of disaster
The singer does not wish for others to follow in their footsteps, creating a life or path that is wrought with pain and misery.


Whereupon I tell them
At this point or in this instance, the artist speaks to those who judge or criticize them.


To go fuck their mothers
The artist is vulgar and dismissive towards their detractors, telling them to engage in an incestuous or taboo act as an insult.


As so....
The singer concludes with this statement, which may reflect resignation, defiance or some other emotion.


On my grave
This final phrase suggests that the singer may be dead or dying, and this statement is their legacy or final words.




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHARLES HEDGER, DANIEL LLOYD DAVEY, DAVE PYBUS, PAUL JAMES ALLENDER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@AprellaDguild

I love the lyrics... just amazing how they play with words... Ville his warm voices fits in beside Danni's harsh and cold one It brings a strange kind of harmony to it. "'the patron saint of heartache" really fits Ville... I could have come from one of his bands songs...

@MCat360

Wow! Never imagined Ville doing a song with Cradle of Filth. Pretty freakin awesome!

@zestatativan

everything that ville touches turns into perfection

@canyonsickles1505

So... freaking....true.

@TonyTama

YES!

@VanitySkating

+bomt i was raised in the hood and i still know this

@pantherex4284

Same with Dani Filth ;)

@AssPimple69

his part is literally what ruins this fucken song

2 More Replies...

@keithclayton1271

One of the most lyrically-complex songs ever written.  Lots of classic references.

@alexandervladimirovich576

+Keith Clayton

Truth!

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