Guest appearances through various Six Feet Under albums include Ice-T on True Carnage's "One Bullet Left" and Karyn Crisis of Crisis fame on the True Carnage song "Sick and Twisted." Many consider this the first death metal duet between a male and female.
World-renowned tattoo artist Paul Booth is known to do most of Six Feet Under's album art.
2) 6 Feet Under was Nanette DeLaune, Jerry Dobb, Scott Julian, Duane Ulgherait, Jay Crystal, Hector Tico Torres. Formed in 1966 out of the ashes of the Marc 5 and The Sonix, this Colonia, NJ ensemble captured the changing times and sociological upheaval of the pre-Woodstock Nation. Like the Jefferson Airplane, Neighb'rhood Childr'n and The United States Of America, Six Feet Under was blessed with a dynamic diva who soared amidst searing fuzz leads, swirling organ chords, and gifted songwriting with prophetic lyrics. (from their CD-release "In Retrospect 1969-'70")
Illusions
Six Feet Under Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the spawn of the devil
behold the darkness
entombed by illusion
the crown of thorns on fire
take the heart of the enemy
i scream with hatred in my eyes
hypocrisy - its a disease
to capture your dreams and deceive
a body left to bleed hanging from wire
gutted and cleaned of all internal organs
the waste from the corpse
will infect your brain
and dissolve the sickness within
your own decayed soul
a victim left to die hanging from rope neck
broken and green
still swaying
from its moment of death
this body will rot forever
overlord of illusion I capture your dreams
and deceive
killing the child at conception an innocent
marked by the devil for slaughter
no end to the illusions
from your moment of death
forever in hell
no end to the illusions...
The song "Illusions" by Six Feet Under is a dark and disturbing portrayal of the manifestations of evil and the falsities that can plague the mind. The first stanza sets the tone by referencing blood, the devil, darkness, and illusions. The second stanza depicts the singer's intense hatred towards hypocrisy and the desire to attack it with the heart of the enemy. The following lines present graphic imagery of gutted corpses and their infectious waste, leading to a descent into a decayed soul. The final verse speaks of killing the innocent marked by the devil for slaughter and the continuation of illusions beyond death, leading to an eternal damnation in hell.
The lyrics delve into the themes of evil, the subconscious, and the consequences of one's actions. The imagery of gutted corpses and waste signifies the toxic effects of evil and how it can slowly dissolve one’s own soul. The symbolism of the innocent child marked by the devil implies that one's sins can have unforeseeable consequences and also underlines the main theme of illusions. The singer captures the dreams and deceives, implying that illusions and falsities can be created to cover up the truth. Overall, the lyrics are a dark portrayal of the human mind and the powerful forces of evil that can corrupt it.
Line by Line Meaning
blood drenched
The scene is gruesome and violent, with blood everywhere.
the spawn of the devil
The person or creatures responsible for this violent act are evil, possibly even demonic.
behold the darkness
The overall mood is dark, foreboding, and dangerous.
entombed by illusion
The person or people involved are trapped or blinded by false perceptions.
the crown of thorns on fire
The situation is highly charged and potentially explosive.
take the heart of the enemy
The person speaking is urging action, likely violent or aggressive, against an enemy.
i scream with hatred in my eyes
The singer is consumed with anger and hatred, expressing this intensity through their gaze and voice.
to attack your hypocrisy
The artist is targeting someone who they believe is acting in bad faith or betraying their own values.
hypocrisy - its a disease
The artist sees hypocrisy as a widespread and destructive force in the world.
to capture your dreams and deceive
The artist is planning to manipulate or betray someone to further their own goals.
a body left to bleed hanging from wire
The scene being described is horrific, with a mutilated body hanging from a wire.
gutted and cleaned of all internal organs
The victim's body has been dismembered and carefully prepared in some way.
the waste from the corpse
Even the discarded remains of the victim are dangerous or contaminated in some way.
will infect your brain
The singer is using extreme imagery to persuade someone that their actions are morally wrong.
and dissolve the sickness within
The singer is offering a grisly solution to an ethical quandary or moral impasse.
your own decayed soul
The person who the artist is addressing is morally compromised or decaying in some way.
a victim left to die hanging from rope neck
The scene being described is even more disturbing, with another victim hanging from a rope neck.
broken and green
This victim's body is damaged and perhaps even decomposed to some degree.
still swaying
The victim's body is still moving, indicating recent violence or trauma.
from its moment of death
The victim may have only died very recently or suddenly.
this body will rot forever
The artist is emphasizing the finality and horror of death and decay.
overlord of illusion I capture your dreams
The artist is identifying themselves as a powerful force capable of manipulating others' perceptions and desires.
and deceive
The singer is warning someone that they are not to be trusted.
killing the child at conception an innocent
The artist is describing an act of violence against a defenseless and innocent person.
marked by the devil for slaughter
The singer is implying that the victims are somehow deserving of their violent fate or have been targeted by a higher power.
no end to the illusions
The singer believes that the world is full of false perceptions and misdirection.
from your moment of death
The singer implies that deception, betrayal, and violence follow a person beyond this life.
forever in hell
The artist is using religious language to underscore the gravity and permanence of a violent, cruel existence.
no end to the illusions...
The song ends abruptly, with the implications of violence and deceit lingering in the mind of the listener.
Contributed by Joseph F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.