Darkness
Shylock Lyrics

The lyrics to Shylock's song "Darkness" convey a sense of isolation, fear, and disillusionment. The singer is unable to sleep and finds themselves plagued by a sense of unease and discomfort, symbolized by the statement "I stare at the wall, I feel the creeps." They are filled with anxiety and their body reacts physically, as evidenced by the line "Sweat is pouring through my skin." In this state, they turn to prayer, seeking forgiveness for their sins, suggesting a desire for redemption and relief from their inner turmoil.

The mention of being "lost in time" and experiencing "nightmares of reality" indicates a deeper psychological struggle. The singer may be haunted by traumatic memories or experiences, as hinted at by the question "Did I ever return from war?" They feel trapped and unable to escape their past, illustrated by the metaphorical knocking on the door of their memory. The lyrics also suggest a loss of identity and a struggle to reconcile who they were before with who they have become, as seen in the line "What am I, my own enemy?"

The lyrics then address a political dimension, invoking a conversation with a president figure who calls for fighting for peace. The singer questions the idea of using violence to achieve freedom and expresses a sense of disappointment and disillusionment with the current state of affairs. They suggest that freedom, symbolized as a "loaded gun," has become a destructive force. The line "After all, what have we become?" reflects a deeper contemplation on the human cost of war and the erosion of moral values.

The repetition of the line "Alone in the darkness, alone in the cold" throughout the song emphasizes the singer's isolation and the emotional distance they feel from society. This repetition also underscores the idea that life will never be the same as before, implying a sense of irreversible change and loss. The final line "Alone in the darkness, alone in the cold" repeated at the end reinforces the feelings of isolation and solitude, leaving the listener with a lingering sense of despair. Overall, the song captures a profound sense of internal struggle, disillusionment with society, and the enduring impact of war and trauma on an individual's psyche.