Sinistereo
The Edge Lyrics


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Now come thoughts that you shall not banish
Secret fears, visions never to vanish
Crawling shapes now come writhing out
Cast their shadows over this human rat

You set yourself on fire
You set yourself on fire
You set yourself on fire

Breath of our breath with no blood or bone
Never grows weary, never grows old
Mutters and mumbles in infinite ways
Ever the tyrant to the willing slaves

You set yourself on fire
You set yourself on fire
You set yourself on fire

Much of madness and more of sin
No government of this vast, formless thing

You set yourself on fire
You set yourself on fire




You set yourself on fire
You set yourself on fire

Overall Meaning

The Edge's song Sinistereo is a haunting and mysterious expression of the shadowy emotions that lurk within the human psyche. The lyrics evoke a sense of deeply embedded fears and anxieties, as the singer describes the "thoughts that you shall not banish" and the "secret fears, visions never to vanish." These phantasmagorical visions seem to be embodied by the "crawling shapes" that "writhing out" to "cast their shadows over this human rat," suggesting a kind of malevolent presence or force that haunts and torments the mind.


The second verse introduces a more abstract and metaphysical dimension, as the singer speaks of a being that is "breath of our breath with no blood or bone" and "never grows weary, never grows old." This entity seems to be a kind of perpetual presence, muttering and mumbling in endless ways and acting as a tyrant to the willing slaves of the mind. The final lines reiterate the earlier imagery of self-immolation, as the singer declares that "you set yourself on fire" over and over again.


Overall, Sinistereo is a deeply evocative and unsettling song that speaks to the darker aspects of the human psyche, exploring themes of fear, anxiety, and self-destruction. The lyrics are rich with symbolism and allusion, offering a wealth of interpretive possibilities that are sure to fascinate and intrigue listeners.


Line by Line Meaning

Now come thoughts that you shall not banish
Unwanted thoughts and feelings are creeping into your mind, and you cannot make them go away.


Secret fears, visions never to vanish
You are haunted by your deepest and darkest fears, and you cannot escape the terrifying images that come to your mind.


Crawling shapes now come writhing out
The horrifying memories and thoughts that are plaguing you are becoming tangible and real, as if they are actually coming to life.


Cast their shadows over this human rat
These fears and visions are overwhelming you, making you feel small and helpless in their midst.


You set yourself on fire
You are self-destructive and willing to go to any lengths to cope with your inner demons, even if it means burning yourself alive.


Breath of our breath with no blood or bone
The darkness that is consuming you is intangible and abstract, and it doesn't have any physical form or substance.


Never grows weary, never grows old
Your fears and anxieties are persistent and everlasting, and they continue to haunt you no matter how long they have been with you.


Mutters and mumbles in infinite ways
These terrifying thoughts and feelings mutate and change in unpredictable ways, and they are impossible to predict or understand fully.


Ever the tyrant to the willing slaves
You have become a slave to your own fears and anxieties, and they continue to control and dominate you like a tyrant.


Much of madness and more of sin
Your mental state has reached a level of insanity that is beyond what most people can comprehend, and it is accompanied by a deep sense of guilt and shame.


No government of this vast, formless thing
You are powerless against the chaotic and uncontrollable forces that are tormenting your mind, and you feel like you have no control over your own thoughts and feelings.


You set yourself on fire
You continue to engage in self-destructive behavior as a means of coping with your inner demons, even though it only makes things worse in the end.


You set yourself on fire
Your inner turmoil has consumed you completely, and you are willing to sacrifice everything, including your own life, to find some semblance of peace.


You set yourself on fire
Your mental state is deteriorating rapidly, and you are on the brink of losing yourself completely to your own madness and despair.


You set yourself on fire
You are consumed by a self-destructive impulse that you cannot control, and it is leading you towards your own destruction.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVE EVANS, PAUL DAVID HEWSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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