Tarantella
Prurient Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I draw the bolt, you jimmy the lock
I yank the shades, you tap at the glass
I'm shut against you like a fort
but you seep through, your foot-
prints multiplying overnight
spreading over the carpet like a dew
Devouring mist
you're in the air I breathe
you're growing in my left breast
I hack you out, but you grow back
hang on, jaws locked
you flop at my back, at my chest
Overhead, your yellow eye
roving like a hawk
you swoop across my yard, your shadow
blowing toward me in my sleep
you're piling high against the door
you're howling like a jackal on the other side
a whiff of me bristles your hock
you sniff the air and bay
begin your long relentless trek
loping out of the desert half-lame
starving, stung by God
raving like a locust plague
you pitch a tent on the edge of town
preaching misery and doom
Jeremiah
I'm the moon
you're the ash on my face
Come, storm me, swarm my gate
I'll pitch you over the top
even if you crack me like a cottonwood
my sap will hiss and issue forth alive
fresh, seething
thriving on your filth
I smear myself with you until I stink.
Beat the tambourine, pour the wine!
This time, for the sheer joy, for the itch
in the soles of our feet
we dance, we celebrate, we lock once more
our feet begin their wedding jig
our legs and bellies shake
the scorpion flicks its tail erect
as flames close in
your hot breath sweeps my cheek




I'm ready now.
I feel the venom rise.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Bolt" by Prurient depict a tumultuous relationship between two individuals, where one partner is trying to keep the other at bay but the other individual keeps on infiltrating their life. The song starts with the imagery of the "bolt," which represents a barrier or a lock between two people, but the second person keeps on trying to get past it by either jimmying the lock or tapping the glass. The first person describes themselves as a fort, but the second person is like a dew, slowly permeating the fort and spreading over the carpet. The second person's presence is described as a mist that is devouring and growing like footprints, even when the first person tries to hack them out.


The second person's demeanor is compared to that of a jackal, always howling on the other side of the door, and their eyes are compared to that of a hawk, roving over the first person. They are described as being half-lame and starving, yet they pitch their tent on the edge of the town and preach doom and misery like Jeremiah. The first person is depicted as the moon, and the second person as the ash on their face, something that is smearable and stinky. Yet, the first person is still drawn to the second person like a magnet and is ready to embrace the venom that comes with it.


Overall, the song portrays a complex and tumultuous relationship where the first person is trying hard to push away the second person, who keeps creeping back into their life like a plague. The song is filled with vivid imagery and metaphors that create a sense of unease and tension between the two individuals.


Line by Line Meaning

I draw the bolt, you jimmy the lock
I create barriers to keep you out, but you persist in trying to enter.


I yank the shades, you tap at the glass
I try to block out any visual reminders of you, but you continue to be present in my thoughts.


I'm shut against you like a fort
I am closed off and resistant to your advances.


But you seep through, your foot-
Despite my efforts to resist, you manage to infiltrate my life and thoughts.


Prints multiplying overnight
Your impact on my life grows stronger each day.


Spreading over the carpet like a dew
Your influence permeates every aspect of my life like a mist.


Devouring mist
Your presence consumes me, leaving me feeling powerless.


You're in the air I breathe
You have become an inescapable part of my life.


You're growing in my left breast
You have taken root in my heart and I can't shake you.


I hack you out, but you grow back
No matter how hard I try to remove you from my life, you always seem to find a way back in.


Hang on, jaws locked
I cling to my resistance to you with all my strength.


You flop at my back, at my chest
Your presence feels suffocating and overwhelming.


Overhead, your yellow eye
Your watchful presence looms over me, making me feel exposed and vulnerable.


Roving like a hawk
You scan my life, searching for opportunities to infiltrate further.


You swoop across my yard, your shadow
Your influence taints everything in my life, casting a shadow over everything I do.


Blowing toward me in my sleep
Even in my dreams, you haunt me.


You're piling high against the door
Your presence at the threshold of my life seems insurmountable.


You're howling like a jackal on the other side
Your unrelenting desire to be present in my life is almost like an animalistic obsession.


A whiff of me bristles your hock
The mere suggestion of my presence is enough to set you off on your relentless pursuit of me.


You sniff the air and bay
You are in hot pursuit of me with all your senses attuned to my presence.


Begin your long relentless trek
You will stop at nothing to be a part of my life.


Loping out of the desert half-lame
You are damaged and limping after your long journey, but still determined to reach me.


Starving, stung by God
You are weakened and desperate, but still believe that being with me is worth it.


Raving like a locust plague
Your fervent pursuit of me is almost like a natural disaster, with no thought to the destruction you leave in your wake.


You pitch a tent on the edge of town
You are content to be on the periphery of my life, as long as you can be close to me.


Preaching misery and doom
You make no apologies for the chaos you bring to my life, seeing it as the cost of being with me.


Jeremiah
You are like the Old Testament prophet whose warnings of doom went unheeded.


I'm the moon
I am luminous and attractive, yet distant and unattainable to you.


You're the ash on my face
Your presence mars my beauty, tainting me with your filth and obsession.


Come, storm me, swarm my gate
You are relentless in your pursuit of me, unwilling to take no for an answer.


I'll pitch you over the top
I will take drastic measures to keep you out of my life.


Even if you crack me like a cottonwood
You may succeed in damaging me, but I will still resist you.


My sap will hiss and issue forth alive
Despite the damage you may do to me, I am still vibrant and alive, with a resilience that you cannot diminish.


Fresh, seething
I am constantly renewing and re-energizing myself, no matter what obstacles I face.


Thriving on your filth
Your chaos and obsession actually fuel me, giving me strength to continue resisting you.


I smear myself with you until I stink.
Even as I resist your presence in my life, I cannot escape the fact that you have left a mark on me.


Beat the tambourine, pour the wine!
We celebrate the struggle between us, reveling in the challenge of being in each other's lives.


This time, for the sheer joy, for the itch
We enjoy the chase and the game of trying to win each other over.


In the soles of our feet
Our attraction for each other goes down to the very core of our beings.


We dance, we celebrate, we lock once more
We continue our struggle, even as we enjoy each other's presence in our lives.


Our feet begin their wedding jig
Our love-hate relationship has become so integral to our lives that it is almost like a marriage.


Our legs and bellies shake
Our passion for each other borders on the uncontrollable.


The scorpion flicks its tail erect
Our relationship is dangerous and unpredictable, much like the behavior of a scorpion.


As flames close in
Despite the danger of our relationship, we cannot help but be drawn to each other.


Your hot breath sweeps my cheek
Your presence continues to dominate my life, despite my best efforts to resist you.


I'm ready now.
Despite my resistance, I am powerless to resist your pull on me any longer.


I feel the venom rise.
I am giving into my emotions and allowing myself to be consumed by our turbulent relationship.




Contributed by Arianna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found