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Jester's Mask
Highlord Lyrics
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Always telling me the wrong path I can choose
There is an alarm clock in my brain
Tick-tock-telling me the hours
The faces, the time, the lies
And there are lies all around me
In my friends' words, my lover's looks
In each and all of my books
By the lies in my words, in my world
All the lies in the truth
And I'm tired of feeling sorry
I've been sorry all this time
I'm so sick of feeling guilty
Feeling guilty for living my life
The jester in a dark corner crying
Sorry for all the pain he's caused, he hops and dances
He wears his better mask and his most flamboyant costume
While inside he doesn't know if he's alive or dead
Nor me or my friends are able to live
Always looking for cheap girls and thrills
Happy tricks and treats
Furry animals can trick you, your own mother could slit
Your throat at night, you might lose your sanity, boy!
And I'm tired of feeling sorry
I've been sorry all this time
I'm so sick of feeling guilty
Feeling guilty for living my life
The jester in a dark corner crying
Sorry for all the pain he's caused, he hops and dances
He wears his better mask and his most flamboyant costume
While inside he doesn't know if he's alive or dead
I'm not a Bit of a Torrent kind
The Dead don't bother me
But the Living are such a pain in the ass
The jester in a dark corner crying
Sorry for all the pain he's caused he hops and dances
He wears his better mask and his most flamboyant costume
While inside he doesn't know if he's alive or dead
The lyrics to Highlord's song "Jester's Mask" explores the complex themes of identity, betrayal, and guilt through an analogy of a jester with multiple masks. The first few lines describe an internal struggle between the "alter ego" that suggests the wrong path and the alarm clock in the brain that ticks away the hours. The following lines suggest a pervasive sense of distrust and betrayal, with lies surrounding the singer from all sides, even in the words of loved ones and books. The jester, who represents the singer, feels sorry for causing pain, and he hides behind his better mask and flamboyant costume, unsure whether he is alive or dead.
The chorus emphasizes the exhaustion and sickening effect of feeling guilty and sorry all the time, stemming from the lies in the singer's world. The jester, too, is sorry and cries in a dark corner. Even as he hops and dances, his showmanship, and pretense don't change the fact that he is unsure of his identity and place in the world. The final lines describe a general misanthropy, contrasting the indifference to the dead with the frustration caused by the living.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a complex and troubled mood that navigates an existential crisis. The core metaphor of the jester with multiple masks embodies the sense of fragmentation and the Search for self that pervades the song.
Line by Line Meaning
There is an Alter in my Ego
There is a conflicting force within me
Always telling me the wrong path I can choose
Pushing me towards making wrong decisions
There is an alarm clock in my brain
Constantly reminding me of time passing
Tick-tock-telling me the hours
Repetitive and unrelenting reminder of time
The faces, the time, the lies
Deception constantly influences my perception of reality
And there are lies all around me
Dishonesty permeates my surroundings
In my friends' words, my lover's looks
Even those closest to me are not entirely honest
In each and all of my books
Even the knowledge I seek is not fully truthful
Seems I've been betrayed all this time
My trust in others has been misplaced
By the lies in my words, in my world
I myself am guilty of dishonesty in my life
All the lies in the truth
Even accepted truths may hold falsehoods
And I'm tired of feeling sorry
I am tired of apologizing for my mistakes
I've been sorry all this time
I have been apologetic for too long
I'm so sick of feeling guilty
Constantly feeling responsible for my actions is exhausting
Feeling guilty for living my life
My own existence is a source of shame
The jester in a dark corner crying
A symbolic representation of my inner turmoil
Sorry for all the pain he's caused, he hops and dances
The jester is remorseful for his past actions, but still tries to distract from his guilt
He wears his better mask and his most flamboyant costume
Attempting to hide his true self behind a more appealing facade
While inside he doesn't know if he's alive or dead
Uncertainty and confusion about one's own existence
Nor me or my friends are able to live
All of us are held back by our own personal demons and struggles
Always looking for cheap girls and thrills
Seeking out superficial pleasures to distract from inner turmoil
Happy tricks and treats
Temporary distractions that only provide temporary relief
Furry animals can trick you, your own mother could slit
No one and nothing can be trusted fully
Your throat at night, you might lose your sanity, boy!
Paranoia and fear that one's own mind may turn against them
I'm not a Bit of a Torrent kind
I am not one to take risks or jump into things recklessly
The Dead don't bother me
But the Living are such a pain in the ass
Dealing with people in everyday life is a source of frustration
Contributed by Cameron I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.