Odi et Amo
Star of Ash Lyrics

The lyrics of Star of Ash's song Odi Et Amo depict a tumultuous and obsessive love that borders on the line of destruction. The first stanza establishes a dichotomy between shame and secret, with the latter being transparent yet holds hellfire rays within. This imagery conveys the complex feelings associated with love, which are often kept hidden, and shame which is felt when these feelings are exposed. The singer then goes on to express their love for the listener in terms of death, with the imagery of red hands strangling and white lips choking, further underscoring the intensity of their emotions. The last line of the stanza, "I love you to death," affirms the singer's desire for the listener above all else.

The second stanza repeats the "sun of shame" imagery, with the addition of white lips, which can be interpreted as the singer's lips turning white from holding their breath in anticipation or from being choked. The last line of this stanza states, "And inside-hellfire-secret" once again, reinforces the idea that the intensity of the singer's emotions is contained in a secret place that the listener doesn't know about.

These lyrics are a recitation of Catullus' poem 52, which speaks to the desire for death as an escape from emotional pain. The act of dying is presented as a form of relief from the agony caused by unrequited love, something that is echoed in the song. The lyrics of the song provide a contemporary interpretation of the emotion that is inherent in the poem, emphasizing the intensity of the feeling and the potential for destructive behavior that often accompanies such strong emotions.