Sin Nanna
Sunn O))) Lyrics

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Scabs of the past peeling slowly from a dark and distant memory,
emptiness, whispering menace glinting beneath the skin,
consumption in the vast eternal maw,
decaying teeth flickering over the tongue of the faceless,
debasement of eternal torment,
dark is the light.
Dark is the light. And everything is black.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sunn O)))'s song 'Sin Nanna' portray a haunting and ominous image of a past that is slowly being shed but not forgotten. The imagery of scabs peeling away from a distant memory gives the sense that the singer is trying to move on from something painful, but the scars remain visible. The emptiness present in these memories are personified as a whispering menace that lurks beneath the surface, almost like a predator waiting to pounce. The consumption in the "vast eternal maw" adds to the sense of something being swallowed up, lost forever. The mention of "decaying teeth flickering over the tongue of the faceless" speaks to the degradation caused by these memories, as they consume and rot away at the core of one's being. The last line of the stanza, stating 'dark is the light', contrasts the idea of light brought forth by the word 'whispering' in the previous line with something sinister and foreboding.

The second stanza echoes the sentiment of the first with its repetition of the line 'dark is the light'. It implies that the darkness concealed within the memory is pervasive, and can be found in every aspect of one's life, including the supposed 'light'. The last line, 'everything is black' is a stark reminder of how all-consuming and heavy these memories can be, ultimately obscuring any semblance of light in one's life.

Overall, the lyrics of "Sin Nanna" explore the haunting nature of past memories that cannot be fully forgotten, and how these memories can poison every aspect of one's life. It's a reflection of how these personal demons can be all-encompassing and affect the way one perceives the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Scabs of the past peeling slowly from a dark and distant memory
Old wounds are slowly re-opening, reminding of a painful past that seems far away.

emptiness, whispering menace glinting beneath the skin
A sense of inner emptiness is underlying, creating a feeling of unease and danger.

consumption in the vast eternal maw
An all-consuming, never-ending void is devouring everything.

decaying teeth flickering over the tongue of the faceless
Rotting and decaying teeth are the only sensation felt by a nameless being.

debasement of eternal torment
A life of suffering and degradation that will never end.

dark is the light.
Even the light is dark and oppressive, adding to the overall sense of hopelessness.

Dark is the light. And everything is black.
There is no escape from the darkness, and everything is consumed by it.

Contributed by Austin W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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