Rattlesnake
Shining Sons Lyrics
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Cut me from this rope
I've been hangin' here for fifty years
You know that I can't cope
My blackened eyes have seen you
Like corpses round your table
I'd like to join you in your feast
But you know that I'm not able
Take me in, take me i-i-in
Take me in, take me in, take me in
Rattlesnake
Take me in, take me down
Hold me by your side
You'll know that I'm a rattlesnake
By my tattooed hide
I can wrap myself around you
And I can shed my skin
You'll know that I'm a rattlesnake
When you take me in
Take me in, take me i-i-in
Take me in, take me in, take me in
Rattlesnake
Help me out, help me down
Cut me from this rope
I've been hangin' here for fifty years
You know that I can't cope
My blackened eyes have seen you
Like corpses round your table
I'd like to join you in your feast
But you know that I'm not able
Take me in, take me i-i-in
Take me in, take me in, take me in
Rattlesnake
"Rattlesnake" by Shining Sons is a song about a person who is asking for help and wants to be accepted. The lyrics suggest that the person has been hanging onto a rope for 50 years and wants to be cut loose. The singer feels like he cannot cope and wants to join the people he sees around a feast. However, he also acknowledges that he is not able to join them. The singer compares himself to a rattlesnake with a tattooed hide, implying that he has been hardened by the experiences that he has had to endure. He suggests that he can wrap himself around the people and shed his skin, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for changing his ways and trying to assimilate with the people around him.
The song's overall message is one of vulnerability, isolation, and the desire for acceptance. The imagery of the blackened eyes and corpses around a table creates a dark and unsettling tone, which is in contrast to the chorus's upbeat melody. The song's title "Rattlesnake" is used to signify the singer's toughness, but at the same time, it can also be seen as a warning to the people who may take him in. The singer is asking to be taken in, but at the same time, he is warning the people that he can still inflict harm.
Line by Line Meaning
Help me out, help me down
The singer is looking for someone to rescue them from the situation they are in.
Cut me from this rope
The singer feels trapped and wants to be freed from their current circumstances.
I've been hangin' here for fifty years
The singer feels like they have been stuck in this situation for a long time.
You know that I can't cope
The artist is unable to handle the situation they are in on their own.
My blackened eyes have seen you
The artist has been watching someone for a long time, likely from a distance.
Like corpses round your table
The people that the singer has been watching are like dead bodies, possibly indicating that they are emotionless or disconnected from each other.
I'd like to join you in your feast
The singer wants to be included in the group they have been watching.
But you know that I'm not able
The artist feels like they are unable to fit in or be accepted by the group.
Take me in, take me i-i-in
The artist is pleading with someone to accept them into their group.
Take me in, take me in, take me in
Repetition emphasizes the artist's desire to be included and accepted.
Rattlesnake
This line represents the singer's tattoo and serves as a metaphor for the danger they may bring to the group they want to be accepted into.
Take me in, take me down
The artist wants to be brought into the group physically and emotionally.
Hold me by your side
The singer wants to be treated as part of the group and cared for by its members.
You'll know that I'm a rattlesnake
The singer is warning the group that they may be dangerous or disruptive.
By my tattooed hide
The singer's tattoo serves as a symbol of their identity and the danger they may bring.
I can wrap myself around you
The artist is indicating that they can be a part of the group, but also warns that they could constrict or harm others.
And I can shed my skin
The artist could potentially change or adapt within the group, but also hints at the idea of a dangerous or deceitful nature.
Contributed by Caden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.