Open Up
Korn Lyrics


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What were you thinking?
I guess I'll never know
See your eyes blinking
Pupils begin to grow

Drilling you softly
Pulling you in
Making your mind up
What's sick or a sin

Open up now, let it all go
I'm quite certain, say it ain't so
You're corrupted by
Some sick fuck, oh, no

Open up now, head in the sky
Pierce the tongue that keeps telling lies
Feelings in my mouth
You breathe in but can't breathe out

What you've been taking
It makes you talk real slow
How come I'm thinking
You'd be the last to know?

Choking you gently
Gaining control
Hand you the shovel
To dig your own hole

Open up now, let it all go
I'm quite certain, say it ain't so
You're corrupted by
Some sick fuck, oh, no

Open up now, head in the sky
Pierce the tongue that keeps telling lies
Feelings in my mouth
You breathe in but can't breathe out

Choking you gently
Gaining control
Hand you the shovel
To dig your own hole

Open up now, let it all go
Ah-ah-ah
Open up now, let it all go
Ah-ah-ah

Open up now, head in the sky
Pierce the tongue that keeps telling lies
Feelings in my mouth
You breathe in but can't breathe out





You breathe in but can't breathe out

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Korn's song Open Up describe a scene of a person being coerced or manipulated by an unknown person. It's unclear who this person is or what their intentions are, but the lyrics suggest that they are exerting a strong influence over the singer, "drilling [them] softly" and "making [their] mind up what's sick or a sin." The chorus repeats the phrase "Open up now, let it all go," which can be interpreted as either a plea to the person being manipulated to reveal their true feelings or a demand from the manipulator to give in completely.


The second verse introduces the concept of a drug ("what you've been taking") that has affected the person's ability to communicate clearly. The singer wonders how they could be so unaware of what's happening ("how come I'm thinking you'd be the last to know?") and the manipulation continues with the image of the person being "choked gently" and "given a shovel to dig [their] own hole." The repetition of the chorus underscores the idea that the person being manipulated is helpless to resist. The final line "You breathe in but can't breathe out" is a powerful image that suggests suffocation or drowning.


Overall, the lyrics to Open Up are mysterious and unsettling, leaving open the question of who is being manipulated and what the manipulator's motives are. The repeated chorus is both haunting and catchy, underscoring the idea that sometimes we can't help but give in to our own weakness or desires.


Line by Line Meaning

What were you thinking?
Asking the other person what they were thinking but not expecting a truthful answer.


I guess I'll never know
Knowing that they will never really know what the other person is thinking.


See your eyes blinking
Noticing the other person's physical signs of discomfort or unease.


Pupils begin to grow
Noticing that the other person's pupils are growing, which may indicate that they are under the influence of something.


Drilling you softly
Slowly and carefully asking the other person questions to get them to reveal their true thoughts or feelings.


Pulling you in
Using emotional manipulation to make the other person feel comfortable and vulnerable.


Making your mind up
Putting pressure on the other person to make a decision.


What's sick or a sin
Implanting the idea that something is morally wrong or abnormal.


Open up now, let it all go
Encouraging the other person to reveal their true thoughts or feelings without fear of judgment.


I'm quite certain, say it ain't so
Offering reassurance that it's okay to reveal one's true self.


You're corrupted by
Accusing the other person of being controlled or influenced by something or someone.


Some sick fuck, oh, no
Expressing disgust and shock at the other person's supposed corruption.


Open up now, head in the sky
Encouraging the other person to be honest and forthcoming, and to feel liberated from their fears and worries.


Pierce the tongue that keeps telling lies
Metaphorically injuring the part of the other person that keeps them from telling the truth.


Feelings in my mouth
Describing a visceral reaction, where the singer feels or tastes something in their mouth based on what the other person is saying or feeling.


You breathe in but can't breathe out
Describing the feeling of being suffocated or restrained, unable to fully express oneself.


What you've been taking
Asking the other person what drugs or substances they have been using.


It makes you talk real slow
Noticing that the other person is under the influence of a substance that is affecting their speech and behavior.


How come I'm thinking
Expressing confusion about the situation and how the other person is acting.


You'd be the last to know?
Questioning how the other person could be so unaware of their own state.


Choking you gently
Continuing to apply pressure on the other person to reveal their true feelings or thoughts, but in a less aggressive manner.


Gaining control
Taking control of the situation and the other person's emotions or thoughts.


Hand you the shovel
Metaphor for encouraging the other person to dig their own grave, or to reveal something damaging about themselves.


To dig your own hole
Encouraging the other person to sabotage or reveal something about themselves that may be harmful or incriminating.




Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Atticus Ross, Graham Edwards, Jonathan Davis, Lauren Christy, Scott Spock

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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