Monsters
Cult of Youth Lyrics
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His mother set him free
she said there's lots of monsters among us
that prey on you and me
well he had never told her
but he'd seen these monsters too
so he looked her in the eyes
and said "I know this to be true"
He had barely left town
when he stumbled on a fool
his words they were so boisterous
and his mouth was full of drool
the fool just stood there talking
and he was ambushed by a brute
he has seen his kind before
and his senses were astute
Then he came across a woman
and her outlook was so cold
she took the warmth right from his hands
and the bread right out his bowl
when he reached St. Peter he said
"You better open up that gate
I've been waiting for so long
and my appetite is great"
The lyrics of Cult of Youth's song "Monsters" depict the experiences of a young man as he navigates through the world, encountering societal monsters that prey on him and those around him. The young man's mother had warned him about these monsters, and as he left town, he witnessed firsthand the danger they possess. The first monster he encounters is a fool who is taken down by a brute. Despite his words being boisterous, he is vulnerable and unable to defend himself against the brute's attack. The young man, having seen this kind of violence before, was able to identify the situation and stay safe.
The next monster he meets is a woman with a cold outlook, who takes away the warmth from his hands and the bread from his bowl. This encounter reveals the cruelty and selfishness that people can possess, even towards the most vulnerable in society. As the young man nears the end of his journey, he reaches St. Peter and demands to be let into heaven, despite the fact that he may not possess the qualities needed to enter. The young man's appetite, presumably for vengeance or justice against the monsters he encountered, is great, and he is determined to overcome any obstacles that may stand in his way.
Overall, "Monsters" is a dark and poetic reflection on the harsh realities of life, and the violent and selfish tendencies of some people. The young man's encounters with societal monsters serve as a metaphor for the dangers that exist in the world, and his journey towards St. Peter represents the struggle for justice and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
When he was a young man
The story starts with a young man who had a past filled with monsters and dark experiences.
His mother set him free
His mother gave him freedom from everything that held him back.
she said there's lots of monsters among us
that prey on you and me
His mother warned him about the existence of a lot of people who can be dangerous.
well he had never told her
but he'd seen these monsters too
He never told his mother, but he had firsthand experience with these monsters.
so he looked her in the eyes
and said "I know this to be true"
He looked into his mother's eyes and told her confidently that he knew what she said was true.
He had barely left town
when he stumbled on a fool
After leaving his town, he encountered a foolish person.
his words they were so boisterous
and his mouth was full of drool
the fool just stood there talking
and he was ambushed by a brute
The foolish person talked boisterously and was attacked by a thug.
he has seen his kind before
and his senses were astute
He recognized the type of person who attacked the fool, and his instincts were sharp.
Then he came across a woman
and her outlook was so cold
He met a woman who had a cold perspective and attitude towards life.
she took the warmth right from his hands
and the bread right out his bowl
This woman took everything from him, including his possessions that he needed for survival.
when he reached St. Peter he said
"You better open up that gate
I've been waiting for so long
and my appetite is great"
This line represents his desire to move to a better place and his hunger to get there as soon as possible.
Contributed by Alexandra M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.