Narcissus
Threshold Lyrics


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Caught in the headlamp glare of your own blinding vanity
Mesmerized by the stare of your shallow personality
Gorging the junk food of flattery you drag your fat ego around
Everyone floored by the battering you give to whoever's around

Trapped in the personal hell of your own desperate addiction
Frightened that others can tell of your expensive affliction
With your happiness based on a chemical you wax lyrical with words so profound
When your indulgence reaches that level it's safest not to be around

Oh narcissus you petulant child admiring yourself in the curve of my eyes
Oh narcissus you angel beguiled unsated by self you do nothing but die

Wrapped in the transparent lies of your desperate situation
You expound on imaginary ties expecting us to believe them
In the absence of concrete commitment
You've all the attention that money can buy
Not caring that those who still love you are callously thrown to one side

Oh narcissus you petulant child admiring yourself in the curve of my eyes
Oh narcissus you angel beguiled unsated by self you do nothing but die
Oh narcissus you treacherous child admiring yourself in the curve of my eyes
Oh narcissus you angel beguiled unsated by self you do nothing but die

Hey you dog man whelp of a litter of scavengers
Bolting the flesh of your victims with a ravenous greed
You work with your siblings up to a point
'Til your ego is sated or your wallet fulfilled
Jealously guarding the bones of your kill
With a malice that's born out of fear

Running with the pack your defence is to attack
But I detect you in your stealth because you've rolled in your own filth
You hope to gain my trust with your cowardly disguise
Whispering such confidences my revulsion to a-wreck

You call yourself my friend you call yourself my friend
And when I turn my back your fangs will feel my neck
What is your domain but a barn where your runts roll in the reek
You would seek to steel my freedom and have branded me a freak
I want nothing of your snarling mongrel strain your smarmy doggerel lies
And if these words have singed your fur consider yourself a whipped cur

Gorging the junk food of flattery you haul your fat ego around
Everyone floored by the battering you give to whoever's around





Oh narcissus you petulant child admiring yourself in the curve of my eyes
Oh narcissus you angel beguiled unsated by self you do nothing but die

Overall Meaning

Threshold's song "Narcissus" is a scathing critique of vanity, self-absorption, and addiction in the modern world. The titular figure is portrayed as a petulant child, mesmerized by his own reflection and shallow personality, gorging on flattery and indulging in chemical highs. He speaks of "imaginary ties" and "transparent lies" that he expects others to accept as concrete commitments, callously throwing aside those who still love him. The singer of the song is repulsed by this behavior, seeing it as a form of personal hell for the narcissist, and warning that it is safest not to be around when the indulgence reaches its peak. The song ultimately presents a bleak picture of a self-obsessed culture, where relationships and human connection are replaced by a quest for material wealth and fleeting pleasures.


The lyrics of "Narcissus" are filled with vivid and powerful imagery, drawing on a range of metaphors and symbols to convey the message. The opening lines, for example, use the metaphor of a headlamp to represent the blinding effect of vanity, while the various references to dogs and other scavengers suggest a sense of decay and corruption in the world of the narcissist. The chorus, with its repeated address to "Oh narcissus," takes on a tone of mockery and disgust, underscoring the contempt the singer feels for this figure. The use of the name Narcissus itself is a reference to the Greek myth of the beautiful youth who falls in love with his own reflection, unable to tear himself away until he dies of thirst and starvation.


In addition to its powerful lyrical content, "Narcissus" is also notable for its musical qualities. The song features a driving beat and crunchy guitar riffs that reinforce the sense of anger and frustration in the lyrics. The use of vocal harmonies and shifting tempos also creates a sense of urgency and tension, mirroring the unstable psychological state of the narcissist. The song's arrangement is complex and layered, with multiple instrumental and vocal tracks interacting to create a dense and dynamic sound.


Overall, "Narcissus" is a potent and thought-provoking critique of a culture that values material wealth and personal gratification above all else. Its message is clear and unflinching, challenging listeners to examine their own behavior and motivations in a world dominated by narcissism and self-absorption.


Line by Line Meaning

Caught in the headlamp glare of your own blinding vanity
Stuck in the bright glow of your own excessive self-love


Mesmerized by the stare of your shallow personality
Hypnotized by the gaze of your superficial character


Gorging the junk food of flattery you drag your fat ego around
Overindulging in compliments and carrying your huge ego with you


Everyone floored by the battering you give to whoever's around
Everyone stunned by the attacks you make on anyone near you


Trapped in the personal hell of your own desperate addiction
Confined within your own personal hell of an overwhelming obsession


Frightened that others can tell of your expensive affliction
Scared that others can see through your costly addiction


With your happiness based on a chemical you wax lyrical with words so profound
Your feeling of happiness relies on a substance, and you speak of it eloquently


When your indulgence reaches that level it's safest not to be around
When your addiction is out of control, it's best to stay away


Oh narcissus you petulant child admiring yourself in the curve of my eyes
Oh narcissus, you childishly pleased with yourself from seeing your reflection in my eyes


Oh narcissus you angel beguiled unsated by self you do nothing but die
Oh narcissus, you enchanting (yet deceitful) angel, never satisfied with yourself, leading only to destruction


Wrapped in the transparent lies of your desperate situation
Covered in the obvious falsehoods of your desperate state


You expound on imaginary ties expecting us to believe them
You elaborate on unreal connections, hoping we'll accept them


In the absence of concrete commitment
Lacking actual dedication


You've all the attention that money can buy
You have all the spotlight that wealth can purchase


Not caring that those who still love you are callously thrown to one side
Without concern for the loved ones you've heartlessly disregarded


Hey you dog man whelp of a litter of scavengers
Hey, you mutt, born of a group of scavengers


Bolting the flesh of your victims with a ravenous greed
Devouring the flesh of those you've harmed with insatiable desire


You work with your siblings up to a point
You collaborate with your fellow scoundrels to a certain extent


Til your ego is sated or your wallet fulfilled
Until your ego is satisfied or your wallet lined with riches


Jealously guarding the bones of your kill
Protectively securing the remains of your malicious activity


With a malice that's born out of fear
With an animosity that stems from anxiety


Running with the pack your defence is to attack
In the company of your pack, your strategy is to strike first


But I detect you in your stealth because you've rolled in your own filth
But I can sense your deceptive actions because you're covered in your own disgusting behavior


You hope to gain my trust with your cowardly disguise
You're aiming to earn my trust through your fraudulent facade


Whispering such confidences my revulsion to a-wreck
Telling me secrets that only disgust me


You call yourself my friend you call yourself my friend
You claim to be my friend, you claim to be my friend


And when I turn my back your fangs will feel my neck
And when I'm not looking, you'll attack me


What is your domain but a barn where your runts roll in the reek
Your realm is just a dirty stable where your offspring play in the stench


You would seek to steel my freedom and have branded me a freak
You aim to deprive me of my independence, and you've labeled me as strange


I want nothing of your snarling mongrel strain your smarmy doggerel lies
I don't want any part of your aggressive, impure nature or your insincere, trivial words


And if these words have singed your fur consider yourself a whipped cur
And if these words have hurt your pride, think of yourself as a defeated mutt




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JON JEARY, KARL ANTONY GROOM, NICK MIDSON, RICHARD LANSDOWNE WEST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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