Sanctuary
Korn/downlink Lyrics


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A slap in the face
It is endowed
The light of my life
Is put out somehow
I'm lying in pieces of
Emotions, you control
You're feeding my sympathy
The lie unfolds

Feeling this hostility, I pray
Begging, make this evil go away
Conveying the things I only fear
Building my sanctuary of blood and tears

The lines that I traced
Around the scars they swell
In plain with sedative
To numb this spell
I'm lying in pieces of
Emotions, you control
You're feeding this cancer
It's taken hold

Feeling this hostility, I pray
Begging, make this evil go away
Conveying the things I only fear
Building my sanctuary of blood and tears

Feeling, animosity
When no one else is around
Blindly, I scream into the air
Eating my heart off the ground

Feeling this hostility, I pray
Begging, make this evil go away




Conveying the things I only fear
Building my sanctuary of blood and tears

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Korn's "Sanctuary" describe the singer's internal struggle as they face an emotional attack from an unknown source. The situation is unpredictable and leaves the singer feeling vulnerable and shattered, as their life is plunged into darkness. The emotional turmoil is so intense that they feel like they are lying in pieces, unable to find solace or comfort. They describe the influence of the aggressor as a form of control over their emotions, which serves to feed their sympathy, masking the ill intentions that lie beneath. The singer is left with a sense of helplessness and becomes overwhelmed by emotions.


In the chorus, the singer prays to make the evil go away, conveying the idea that they are facing a spiritual battle. The conflict is so consuming the singer's only hope is to construct a sanctuary of blood and tears, built from the emotions and experiences they must confront. The singer's journey is one of self-discovery and acceptance, however challenging the path may be. The final lines impart a sense of desperation and abandonment, conveying the impression that the singer is struggling in isolation, crying out into emptiness.


Line by Line Meaning

A slap in the face
Something unexpected and unpleasant has happened


It is endowed
The situation is now imbued with negative emotions


The light of my life
Something or someone that used to bring happiness and joy


Is put out somehow
That source of happiness has vanished, and it's not clear how


I'm lying in pieces of
The artist feels as though they're disintegrating


Emotions, you control
They're being manipulated by someone else's actions or words


You're feeding my sympathy
The manipulator is taking advantage of the singer's compassion


The lie unfolds
As the manipulator's deception is revealed, the artist feels worse


Feeling this hostility, I pray
The artist is experiencing strong negative emotions and is hoping for relief


Begging, make this evil go away
They're pleading for the situation to improve


Conveying the things I only fear
The singer is expressing their deepest worries and anxieties


Building my sanctuary of blood and tears
Despite the turmoil, the artist is creating a safe space for themselves to heal


The lines that I traced
The singer has marked their pain, possibly on their skin


Around the scars they swell
The physical wounds are inflamed and painful


In plain with sedative
The singer needs medication to cope with the pain


To numb this spell
They want to dull the effects of the emotional turmoil


You're feeding this cancer
The manipulator's actions are causing harm like a disease


It's taken hold
The manipulator's influence has become overwhelming


Feeling, animosity
The singer is struggling with intense negative emotions


When no one else is around
They're isolated


Blindly, I scream into the air
The artist is expressing their pain to no one in particular


Eating my heart off the ground
Their emotional distress is affecting them physically




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: JONATHAN HOWSMAN DAVIS, REGINALD ARVIZU, JAMES CHRISTIAN SHAFFER, RAYMOND LEE LUZIER, SEAN CASAVANT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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