Throughout the 90's, Ghoulspoon forged its own path and gained a reputation and following in the SoCal area through hard work and regional touring with the likes of Incubus, Korn, 311, Deftones, No Doubt, Sublime, Kid Rock, System of a Down, Static-X, Sugar Ray, Foo Fighters, The Cult, Snot, Kottonmouth Kings, Powerman 5000, and (hed) pe among many others. The band earned a huge fan base and many accolades including handfulls of San Diego Music Awards nominations and 1 win for "Best Hard Rock/Metal Band" in 2001.
Over its career, Ghoulspoon released several demos and 3 albums - “To Serve Man (1993)”, “Medication (1996)”, and “Fever (1999)”, selling over 10,000 units without the help of a manager, booking agent, or major record label. After going through years of lineup changes and enough scandal and debauchery to fill a two part VH1 Special, the band changed a few members and was reborn as Divided by Zero in 2002.
Pets or Meat
Ghoulspoon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The birth of narcissus
Came as a wave
Ever-widening torment
And the beginning of vanity
The death of the vision
Made me a slave
A product without sanity
Mask of emotion
That I see on the wall
Hidden in the mirror
With a lack of security
Save it for the children
And the one who stands tall
Just below the surface
I can sense insecurity
Stop seeing others
When you look at yourself
If there's a problem
Calculate the severity
This is what I thought of
In my room as I knelt
Ridiculously asking up above
For sincerity
But you can break the shrine
Decline, do the time
We crawl through life
Different levels
Of deformity
Think you are free
But you go on confined
We must establish
A true sense of identity
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who's the fairest of them all?
Human being, human see, human do
I will not accept it
I accept the complexity
Just as I am I, he is he, you are you
We all die the same
Appreciate your identity
You think you're a pet
But you're meat and that's all
I'm just a man
I understand the diversity
If you're gonna stop
Make it now, right here
Why be the same?
Celebrate the perversity
These lyrics delve into the concept of self-reflection and the struggle with self-identity. The first line, "Mirrors interfere with my life", sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is struggling with the image he sees in the mirror and how it relates to his sense of self. The birth of Narcissus, the Greek mythology figure who fell in love with his own reflection, is referenced as the beginning of vanity and torment.
The singer discusses his feeling of being a product without sanity while wearing a mask of emotion that he sees on the wall. This alludes to the idea that the image in the mirror is not a true representation of the self but rather a mask that is put on for others to see. The line "Just below the surface, I can sense insecurity" further highlights the struggle with self-image and the insecurity that comes with it.
The chorus, "You think you're a pet, but you're meat and that's all", serves as a reminder that despite the struggle with identity, we all share the same fate. These lyrics promote the celebration of diversity and individuality, advising the listener to "Celebrate the perversity."
Line by Line Meaning
Mirrors interfere with my life
The reflections I see in the mirror have a negative impact on my life.
The birth of narcissus
The concept of vanity and self-obsession.
Came as a wave
It grew and became more prominent over time.
Ever-widening torment
The pain and struggle caused by vanity and self-obsession is constantly increasing.
And the beginning of vanity
The start of excessive focus on one's appearance and self-image.
The death of the vision
The loss of the ability to see myself and others without bias.
Made me a slave
I became controlled by my own vanity and insecurities.
Working alone
Dealing with these issues on my own without help or support.
A product without sanity
I became a victim to obsessive and unhealthy behavior.
Mask of emotion
The fake persona I put on to hide my insecurities from others.
That I see on the wall
The reflection I see in the mirror.
Hidden in the mirror
My insecurities and issues that are not immediately obvious to me or others.
With a lack of security
Feeling unstable and uncertain about myself and my identity.
Save it for the children
Leave a positive self image for future generations.
And the one who stands tall
Those who are confident with a strong sense of self.
Just below the surface
The issues and insecurities still exist even when they may not be apparent.
I can sense insecurity
I can identify the same insecurities in others.
Stop seeing others
Stop comparing myself to others.
When you look at yourself
When I examine my own self-image.
If there's a problem
If there is an issue or insecurity within myself.
Calculate the severity
Assess the seriousness of the issue and its impact on my life.
This is what I thought of
This was my realization or epiphany.
In my room as I knelt
During a moment of introspection and reflection.
Ridiculously asking up above
Asking for divine intervention or guidance in regards to my insecurities.
For sincerity
For genuine honesty and authenticity.
But you can break the shrine
Breaking away from the idealized image of oneself.
Decline, do the time
Reject the notion that there is only one path to success or self-worth.
We crawl through life
We struggle and move slowly throughout life.
Different levels
Different stages or levels of development and growth.
Of deformity
Of flaws, issues or misaligned values.
Think you are free
Believing that you have control over your life and choices.
But you go on confined
Limits and restrictions are a part of life, and there are always forces outside of our control.
We must establish
The need to develop and nurture a true sense of identity.
A true sense of identity
A healthy and authentic understanding of oneself.
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Addressing the reflection and self-image represented by mirrors.
Who's the fairest of them all?
Who holds the strongest or most accurate self-image?
Human being, human see, human do
A reflection on the similarities between individuals and their behavior.
I will not accept it
I will not accept harmful or unhealthy behavior and attitudes.
I accept the complexity
I acknowledge the complexity of human experience and the multiple factors that shape who we are.
Just as I am I, he is he, you are you
Everyone is unique and follows their own path through life.
We all die the same
Our vulnerability and mortality unites us all.
Appreciate your identity
Recognize and value the importance of individual differences and diversity.
You think you're a pet
Believing that you are subject or subservient to others.
But you're meat and that's all
In the end, we are all equal and subject to the same fate.
I'm just a man
Recognizing one's humanness and limitations.
I understand the diversity
A statement of empathy and respect for individual differences and experiences.
If you're gonna stop
If you want to make a change or break from unhealthy and negative behaviors.
Make it now, right here
Taking action and making a change immediately and without delay.
Why be the same?
Challenging the notion that conformity is necessary or beneficial.
Celebrate the perversity
Embrace and celebrate the unconventional and unique aspects of oneself and others.
Contributed by Savannah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.