A key influence on industrial rock, their early music was described by critics Stephen Thomas Erlewine and John Dougan as well as industrial metal and "quasi-metal, dancing to a tune of doom and gloom," which gradually evolved over the years, incorporating elements of electronic music, synth-pop, gothic rock, and alternative rock, though always emphasizing Coleman's "savagely strident vocals."
Finding modest commercial success, Killing Joke have influenced many later bands, such as Nirvana, Ministry, Amen, Lamb of God, Nine Inch Nails, Napalm Death, Amebix, Big Black, Godflesh, Tool, Prong, Metallica, Primus, Jane's Addiction, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Faith No More, Blacklist, Shihad and Korn, all of whom have at some point cited some debt of gratitude to Killing Joke.
Exorcism
Killing Joke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get it out get it out get it out
Behind the illusion of reality
Are forces that speak to me
We will draw them out
We will cast them out
Get it out get it out get it out
Drink wines that foam
Watch the ugliness rise
Watch it bubble to the surface
Let it out let it rise
Rise from my unconscious let it rise
Get it out get it out get it out
All the hate all the hate
I saw you
You just wanted to take a razor and cut his face until it bled
You wanted to inflict
I saw the barbed hooks penetrate deep into the side of his flesh
Get it out get it out get it out
Let it rise
Let it rise let it bubble to the surface
Get it out
All desires that are undeclared
All resentments [their mockeries will show]
Bulging eyes the animal soul begins to rise
Let it out
Get it out
Rise from my unconscious let it rise
Get it out get it out get it out
Let it rise, let the images rise
Let it rise, let it bubble to the surface
Get it out, get it out, get it out now
Let it rise to the surface, let it rise - let it rise - guilt
Rise from my unconscious let it rise
Get it out get it out get it out
All your guilt and the pain and the hurt you cause
All the tears in the child's face
All resentment undeclared
Let it rise
Let it rise let it bubble to the surface
Rise from my unconscious let it rise
Get it out get it out get it out
Clean it up, clean it up
Cover yourself with water
Wash it away, that's right, wash it away
Wash it all away, wash away the tear
In "Exorcism," Killing Joke lead singer Jaz Coleman calls for inner demons to be brought to the surface so that they can be cast out. The song begins with a repetition of "Rise from my unconscious let it rise, get it out, get it out, get it out," serving as a sort of chant to summon these dark thoughts. Lyrically, the song talks about the "illusion of reality" and the forces that exist behind it, speaking to the singer and prompting him to draw them out. Here, wine serves as a symbol for the ugliness and hate that the song speaks of, calling on listeners to watch as these feelings bubble to the surface.
The most striking part of the lyrics is when the song delves into the specific violent thoughts that have been brewing in the singer's mind, which he urges us to release. He mentions someone wanting to take a razor and cut someone's face until it bled, and the barbed hooks that penetrate deep into flesh. All of this anger, pain, and guilt is summoned in the song, with the ultimate goal of cleansing it.
Overall, "Exorcism" is a song about facing inner demons and purging them. It's a dark and powerful tune, full of raw emotion and anger.
Line by Line Meaning
Rise from my unconscious let it rise
The singer wants to bring up their hidden thoughts and emotions to the surface.
Get it out get it out get it out
The singer wants to express and release their pent up negative feelings.
Behind the illusion of reality
The singer believes that there are hidden forces beyond what we normally perceive.
Are forces that speak to me
The artist has a sense of these hidden forces communicating with them.
We will draw them out
The artist plans to bring these forces to the surface for examination.
We will cast them out
The singer plans to rid themselves of these negative forces.
Drink wines that foam
The singer wants to consume something symbolic or cathartic.
Watch the ugliness rise
The artist wants to observe their negative emotions rise to the surface.
Watch it bubble to the surface
The artist is letting their negative emotions come to the forefront.
All the hate all the hate
The artist is focused on the strong emotion of hatred.
I saw you
The singer is addressing someone directly.
You just wanted to take a razor and cut his face until it bled
The artist is accusing the addressed person of wanting to inflict physical harm on someone.
You wanted to inflict
The singer is emphasizing the cruelty and malice of the addressed person's desires.
I saw the barbed hooks penetrate deep into the side of his flesh
The singer is describing a violent image in detail.
All desires that are undeclared
The singer is focusing on hidden and suppressed desires.
All resentments [their mockeries will show]
The artist's resentments will manifest and become apparent.
Bulging eyes the animal soul begins to rise
The artist describes a physical reaction to intense emotions.
Let it out
The singer is encouraging the release of repressed emotion.
Let it rise, let it bubble to the surface
The singer wants to express their repressed feelings fully.
All your guilt and the pain and the hurt you cause
The artist is addressing someone and linking their guilt and actions to pain and hurt caused.
All the tears in the child's face
The artist is emphasizing the pain and sadness caused to a child.
Clean it up, clean it up
The artist is urging the listener to deal with their emotions and actions.
Cover yourself with water
The singer wants the listener to find a cleansing or purifying action.
Wash it away, that's right, wash it away
The artist strongly emphasizes the need to release negative emotions.
Wash it all away, wash away the tear
The singer wants to wash away all the pain and sadness, especially of others.
Lyrics © ALIBI MUSIC LIBRARY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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