The Carnal State
Gorguts Lyrics

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Once my earthly pass
Over and stuck in the past
I will become one with the ground
Dust, I'll be
For those who've seen my earthly pass
Taking place in the past
Coldness will lead to emptiness
Free I'll be from this carnal state.

The stench of mediocrity soars
Once tangible vanish
The lucid pure calmness of ecstasy
The carnal state, my only grief

The carnal state

Entrenched in the logical
Carnal state
The epitome of a comfortless epoch
Transcend
Dreamless in this mind of flesh
Mind of flesh
The fragments of a worthless epoch
Collapse

The stench of mediocrity soars
Once tangible vanish

The lucid pure calmness of ecstasy
The carnal state, my only grief

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Gorguts’ “The Carnal State” describe a philosophical reflection on the nature of existence and death. The song begins with the singer contemplating their own mortality, describing how after their death, they will become one with the ground and will be nothing more than dust. The singer then reflects on the nature of life and how it is fleeting, leading to emptiness. This emptiness is described as being free from the carnal state, or the physical state of existence.

The second verse describes the mediocrity of life and how it creates a stench. This stench is a metaphor for the unsatisfying and unfulfilling nature of life. The singer speaks of the pure calmness of ecstasy, which is only found once the carnal state has been transcended. The carnal state is described as the epitome of a comfortless epoch, suggesting that physical existence is a source of discomfort and pain. The final line of the song describes the “collapse” of the fragments of a worthless epoch, implying that the physical world and all of its material possessions are ultimately meaningless.

Overall, “The Carnal State” is a reflection on the inevitability of death and the limitations of physical existence. The song suggests that true peace and fulfillment can only be found in transcendence beyond the physical body.

Line by Line Meaning

Once my earthly pass
Once I die

Over and stuck in the past
My memory and legacy will remain in the past

I will become one with the ground
My body will decompose and return to nature

Dust, I'll be
My physical remains will become dust

For those who've seen my earthly pass
For those who knew me while I was alive

Taking place in the past
During my lifetime, which is now over

Coldness will lead to emptiness
Death will bring a sense of emptiness and loss to those who knew me

Free I'll be from this carnal state.
I will be free from my physical body and the limitations it imposed on me

The stench of mediocrity soars
The pervasive feeling of unremarkable existence is dominant

Once tangible vanish
Everything that was once concrete and real disappears

The lucid pure calmness of ecstasy
The clarity and peace that comes with the highest level of happiness