Vital Signs
Quo Vadis Lyrics


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Ceremonial Bondage, life is forfeit
Feelings of death in the air, darkness
Falls on the world below it, tied to stakes
Embedded in life, mind insane

Screams of the dead fill the night
Unperceptive scan reveals holes in
your thoughts

Vital signs...
One more day of

Life doesn't make any sense, confusion
Things that made me whole, ripped to shreds
Spread for all to examine
A map of my dreams, a road to my soul

Feel the body of hate, conceptualize the pain
That built their strength




Wrapped in skin of those before them
Withering, complete their sin

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Vital Signs" by Quo Vadis portray a world ridden with hopelessness, despair, and pain. The opening lines "Ceremonial Bondage, life is forfeit" suggest a sense of helplessness and resignation towards life. The perceived feelings of death in the atmosphere contribute to the pervasive darkness that engulfs the world. The image of people "tied to stakes" further reinforces the theme of bondage and imprisonment, both physical and mental. The idea of the mind being "insane" suggests that even the thought processes are not exempt from the torment.


The second verse depicts a world consumed by despair – "Screams of the dead fill the night". It suggests that the idea of death is already present, regardless of whether one is living or dead. The next line "Unperceptive scan reveals holes in your thoughts" appears to indicate a sense of confusion and lack of clarity. It hints at the cracks that lie beneath the surface, which need to be examined. The chorus, "Vital signs... One more day of life", highlights the struggle for survival, even though it seems pointless.


Overall, "Vital Signs" presents a bleak portrayal of life, where the hope for the future lies in simply surviving one more day.


Line by Line Meaning

Ceremonial Bondage, life is forfeit
Life is like being in a ceremonial bondage where everything seems to be fake or meaningless and there is no way out of it.


Feelings of death in the air, darkness
A sense of despair surrounds everyone, and there is a darkness that prevails everywhere.


Falls on the world below it, tied to stakes
The darkness has taken over the world, and people are tied to their fate like they are tied to stakes.


Embedded in life, mind insane
People have lost their minds as they are too much involved in their meaningless life.


Screams of the dead fill the night
The night is filled with the screams of those who have lost their lives due to the darkness of the world.


Unperceptive scan reveals holes in your thoughts
One cannot think clearly as their thoughts are full of confusion and doubts.


Vital signs...One more day of
It's another day of living, with no progression, growth, or improvement.


Life doesn't make any sense, confusion
Life has no meaning, and everything seems blurred and confused all the time.


Things that made me whole, ripped to shreds
Things that used to complete a person have been destroyed, and they feel incomplete.


Spread for all to examine
Their insecurities and weaknesses are exposed for everyone to see.


A map of my dreams, a road to my soul
Their dreams and aspirations are like a map to their soul and identity.


Feel the body of hate, conceptualize the pain
Experience the anger and hatred that one has within, and understand the source of their pain.


That built their strength
Their pain and suffering have made them strong and resilient.


Wrapped in skin of those before them
Their pain has been inherited from their forefathers, and they carry it on their shoulders.


Withering, complete their sin
As they continue to suffer and experience pain, they become helpless and fall into sin, giving up on any hope of redemption.




Contributed by Eliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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