Born out of the ashes of seminal art thrashers Botch and Minneapolis punk h… Read Full Bio ↴Born out of the ashes of seminal art thrashers Botch and Minneapolis punk heroes Kill Sadie, Seattle's These Arms are Snakes have fast-become an integral part of the Pacific Northwest's ever-dynamic musical fabric. The band formed in Seattle, Washington in 2002 and began employing sinister guitar licks mixed with equal parts snarly vocals and a penchant for spaced out musical long form; painting the buzz-heavy Snakes as anything but conventional.

On January 15, 2010, the band released a statement announcing their end.

Brian Cook is now in Russian Circles.
Ryan Frederiksen is now in Narrows.
Steve Sneer is now in Crypts.

Perpetual Bris
These Arms Are Snakes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You were born from sin.
And if that ain't a curse, then I don't know what is.
Like Abraham and altar and the son you can't keep...would the shepherd shed the blood of his most precious sheep?
Did Job ever ponder the price of his piety?
What Methuselah tired?
Did Lazarus want sleep ?
Praise be Thomas for fingering the wound because if he had his doubts then perhaps you should too.
Does the bridge beg for barren wowb?

Did God give the gift of a gamble to you ?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of These Arms Are Snakes's song "Perpetual Bris" are deep and philosophical. They speak about the curse of being born from sin and question the existence of God and his sense of justice. The first line, "You were born from sin" indicates that the subject of the song was born with original sin, and this is suggested to be a curse. It questions the fairness of being marked by sin from the moment one is born. The following lines compare the situation to Abraham's biblical tale where he was asked to sacrifice his son as a test of faith. This line "Like Abraham and altar and the son you can't keep...would the shepherd shed the blood of his most precious sheep?" raises the question of whether the shepherd would sacrifice his most beloved sheep if a similar test of faith were to be asked of him.

The song also references other biblical tales such as Job's piety, Methuselah's life span, and Lazarus's desire for sleep. The lyrics also suggest that one should doubt their beliefs just as Thomas doubted that Jesus had truly risen from the dead until he had seen the wounds. The lyrics also ask intriguing questions such as whether a bridge can beg for a barren womb and whether God gave the subject of the song the gift of gambling. The lyrics call into question the idea of divine justice and wonder if there is any fairness in the way that God operates.

Line by Line Meaning

You were born from sin.
Your existence is a result of sinful actions.

And if that ain't a curse, then I don't know what is.
This is an unfortunate circumstance that has negative consequences.

Like Abraham and altar and the son you can't keep...would the shepherd shed the blood of his most precious sheep?
As in the biblical story of Abraham, sacrificing a loved one is a difficult decision to make.

Did Job ever ponder the price of his piety?
Job suffered greatly in order to prove his devotion to God.

What Methuselah tired?
Methuselah, known for his long life, ultimately faced death and fatigue.

Did Lazarus want sleep ?
Lazarus was brought back from the dead, but he may have preferred to remain at peace.

Praise be Thomas for fingering the wound because if he had his doubts then perhaps you should too.
Thomas' skeptical nature is commendable, as questioning beliefs can lead to greater understanding.

Does the bridge beg for barren wowb?
The bridge may be dependent on the land around it for stability, suggesting the importance of interconnectedness.

Did God give the gift of a gamble to you ?
Life may be uncertain and unpredictable, but it is up to individuals to make choices and take risks.

Contributed by Max M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS