Initially formed in 1993 as a darkwave sideproject by members of famed blac… Read Full Bio ↴Initially formed in 1993 as a darkwave sideproject by members of famed black metal band Summoning (specifically their early lineup comprising Trifixion, Protector, Silenius, and Pazuzu himself), Pazuzu became a solo project after Pazuzu moved back to Canada in 1998. They resemble medievalists such as Dead Can Dance and Arcana, but with a darker somewhat comparable to dark ambient bands like Shinjuku Thief. Their first album also featured Empress Lilith and Minh Ninjao on backing vocals. The project's status is currently unknown, as the official Pazuzu website hasn't been updated in some time.

The King of Vermin
Pazuzu Lyrics

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I am the king of vermin, rodents, rats and plagues.
Of all the darkside, I am monarch, a duke to thrones unknown.
My palace of flesh, a river of souls.
My guards, the souls of war.
Between light and darkness,
between time and infinity, lies my realm I call my own.
I hail nor good, nor a I evil.
I tell not truth, yet I don't lie.

I am not ugly or do I charm.
I hide among the shades.
Although my chest carries a heart, it serves its purpose not.
For life it doesn't bring to me, love and hate is dust.
Without movement still in time, usurping life itself.
I am of substance and of air, a story told no more.
I am not dead and yet I sleep, I do not hear, yet I'm not deaf.
My hands can shape and must destroy, a gracious being, yet insecure.

I am king and I am begger.
I am what you call destiny.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pazuzu's song, The King of Vermin, paint a vivid picture of a powerful and enigmatic figure who rules over the darker elements of existence. The first line, "I am the king of vermin, rodents, rats, and plagues," immediately establishes this character as a being associated with pestilence and disease. However, the subsequent lines reveal that his reign extends much further than simply controlling rats and disease. In fact, he is the "monarch" of the "darksides" and a "duke to thrones unknown."

As he describes his "palace of flesh, a river of souls" and his guards as "the souls of war," it becomes apparent that he is not just a physical force to be reckoned with, but that he also has immense spiritual power. His realm lies "between light and darkness, between time and infinity," hinting at his ability to exist beyond the confines of mortal understanding. His ambivalence towards morality and truth, and his lack of concern for matters of the heart, further emphasize his otherworldly nature. Indeed, the final lines of the verse seem to suggest that he is an entity beyond life and death, beyond the boundaries of our reality.

Overall, The King of Vermin presents a complex and fascinating figure, one who embodies both power and ambiguity, darkness and light.

Line by Line Meaning

I am the king of vermin, rodents, rats and plagues.
I rule over all the unwanted and despised creatures - vermin, rodents, rats, and diseases.

Of all the darkside, I am monarch, a duke to thrones unknown.
I am the ultimate ruler of the underworld, a powerful being with influence and control beyond measure.

My palace of flesh, a river of souls.
My abode is made up of the countless souls that have passed into the afterlife, forming an endless river of spirits.

My guards, the souls of war.
My protectors are the souls of those who died in battle, fierce and ready to serve my every command.

Between light and darkness, between time and infinity, lies my realm I call my own.
My domain is situated in the space between light and darkness, and in the realm beyond time and space, where I reign supreme.

I hail nor good, nor a I evil.
I am neither good nor evil, but a force beyond morality, doing what must be done to maintain the balance of the universe.

I tell not truth, yet I don't lie.
I speak in riddles and enigmas, never telling a full truth or outright lie.

I am not ugly or do I charm.
I do not possess traditional beauty or charm, but I am neither repulsive nor unapproachable.

I hide among the shades.
I prefer to exist in the shadows and hidden places, avoiding the glare of the living world.

Although my chest carries a heart, it serves its purpose not.
I have a heart, but it does not beat with the passions of the living world, and instead lies dormant and useless.

For life it doesn't bring to me, love and hate is dust.
My heart does not bring me the warmth of love or the burning of hate, only an empty feeling like a cloud of dust.

Without movement still in time, usurping life itself.
Even though I am motionless and still, my power is so great that it can supplant the very force of living itself.

I am of substance and of air, a story told no more.
I am both a physical and ethereal being, a legend beyond the tales told by mortals.

I am not dead and yet I sleep, I do not hear, yet I'm not deaf.
I am neither alive nor dead, existing in a state of slumber, aware of my surroundings without physical senses.

My hands can shape and must destroy, a gracious being, yet insecure.
Although I have the power to create and shape, I am also destructive, and despite my immense power, I struggle with my own insecurities and doubts.

I am king and I am begger.
I possess the power of kings and the humility of beggars, with nothing to truly desire or wish for.

I am what you call destiny.
I am the force that shapes the fate of all living things, beyond the will of any deity or mortal being.

Contributed by Jacob G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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