Black Masses
Mercyful Fate Lyrics

Come and join
Inviting the listener to participate in a dark ritual

My black masses
Referring to the ritual as a gathering of those who practice the dark arts

Bring along
Asking the listener to bring with them

Your iron axes
Weapons used in the ritual

Now draw a circle
Create a boundary for the ritual

Right here in the light
Despite the apparent contradiction, the circle is drawn in the light because the forces being summoned are so dark

I'll tell you
The singer is in control of the ritual

Just what to write
The incantation or written ritual instructions

Elohim...Adonai...Tetragrammaton
Names of God in Judaism referenced in the ritual

Slaughtering babies
A particularly heinous and evil act meant to demonstrate the evil of the ritual

In ceremonial ways
The ritualistic nature of the sacrifice

If we're lucky
The listener is being addressed as if they desire to witness such a grotesque act

We can see them for days
Again, meant to horrify the listener with how long the sacrifice is drawn out

'cause baby blood
The blood of a baby is particularly potent for the ritual

Is full of strength
The baby blood has an important energy that is needed for the ritual

But I tell you
The artist is revealing something to the listener

Oh how it stinks
Despite the apparent powerful qualities of the baby blood, it also stinks and repulses the senses

Give me some baby blood
A direct request to the listener or participant to provide the necessary blood

Black masses, black masses, black masses
Chanting and repetition of the term to give it more mystique and gravity

Runnin' wild
The forces being summoned are dangerous and uncontrollable

Spittin' blood
The artist or participants are exhibiting signs of the extreme, violent nature of the ritual

In my lady's face
Without concern for or disregard for others witnessing the actions

I show her my pets
Referring to the bloody, rotten heads as pets further suggests a grave and depraved state of mind

And about my lady
Perhaps meaning the artist's female partner

If she can't take it
If the partner cannot handle witnessing the ritual

She's got to face it
The partner must confront this dark reality

I'll slaughter her too
This extreme violence is a common and accepted part of the singer's mindset during the ritual

Killin' babies, black masses.
A summary statement of the nature of the ritual as horrific and evil acts rather than any form of true worship or reverence