You Knew I Was a Snake
Dunbarrow Lyrics

I was born a rattlesnake
The singer was born with dangerous traits and a warning sign for those around them.

Silver streams from a fiery lake
The singer's origins were tumultuous and full of conflict.

So cold, overgrown
Despite being dangerous, the singer feels isolated and alone.

My kingdom of stick and stone
The artist's world is harsh and unforgiving, with few resources.

Shapeless shadows in my mind
The artist is haunted by their past and unsure of their future.

Rings of smoke tell the doom of our kind
The singer is aware of their dangerous nature and the harm it brings to others.

And it's so inevitable
The singer believes that their nature cannot be changed or avoided.

When you can't tell weak from strong
In a dangerous world, it is hard to know who to trust and who to fear.

I've seen the lidless eye
The artist has had a traumatic experience that has left them scarred.

Way atop of a mountain high
The traumatic event was significant and unforgettable.

The earth don't turn and the sun don't shine
The world has lost its light and hope for the singer.

Forever night is growing nigh
The artist sees only darkness ahead in their future.

Bow fool I'm the serpent king
The singer identifies with their dangerous nature and embraces it.

Desert throne is a rootless thing
The singer's power is unstable and ungrounded, like sand shifting in the desert.

Cold kiss of the shaman has strangled spring
The singer has experienced a loss of hope and vitality, caused by a traumatic event.

As we all lie dead the crows will sing
Death will come for all, and the artist is resigned to this fact.

See the creature's strange faces
The world is full of danger and the unknown, represented by strange creatures.

Hungry pyramid, dead child embrace
The singer sees a world where love and life are sacrificed for power and greed.

See them burn like the red sun
The singer sees those who embrace power and violence will ultimately suffer for it.

See love at the end of a gun
Violence and love are inextricably linked, as love can be destructive and violent.

You know I'm leaving
The artist is leaving behind their past and moving on, whether or not others are ready for it.

Gotta pack my bags and go away
The artist is leaving their past behind and starting fresh somewhere else.

But don't you cry, oh don't worry
The singer wants others to know that their departure is necessary and not a cause for sadness or concern.

It was never meant that I should stay
The artist feels that their dangerous nature made it impossible for them to stay in one place.

It gets better with time I've heard them say
Others have told the singer that time heals all wounds and things will eventually get better.

As all love and passion withers away
Despite these reassurances, the singer feels that love and passion are fleeting and will eventually die.

Your soul turns stone, your body to clay
Loss and trauma can change a person, making them feel numb and lifeless.

When life ain't worth living, alive you can stay
Even when life feels hopeless and bleak, it is important to keep going and find meaning in living.

So to the end now I must wait
The artist is prepared for death and is waiting for it to come.

You ripped my wings, I slit your throat
The singer has been wronged and has retaliated with equally violent actions.

You knew I was a snake
The singer was always dangerous and potentially harmful, and others knew this.