The Red Death
Thrice Lyrics


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Entertain the hope that somehow you'll escape me
Weld the bolts and close the iron gate
Drink deeply the illusion of your safety

My how wishful thoughts inebriate, masquerade, and revel in your opulence
Writhe unfettered by your stabs at ignorance
Swim through hues and whispered tones of here say
A dozen strokes to run your blood cold enough to believe
Remember me? You look so surprised to see me here
With hell's black wings did I over perch these walls




For stony limits cannot hold me out
And now you all die

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Thrice's song "The Red Death" paint a vivid picture of a situation in which an individual is attempting to escape a dark, malevolent force. The song opens with the lyrics "Entertain the hope that somehow you'll escape me," suggesting that the singer is fearful and attempting to evade their pursuer. The subsequent lines, which encourage the listener to "Weld the bolts and close the iron gate" and "Drink deeply the illusion of your safety," reinforce this sense of dread and danger.


The second verse of the song is particularly compelling, as it features a series of vivid and powerful images. The singer is described as engaging in "masquerade" and "revel[ing] in [their] opulence," suggesting a false sense of security or arrogance. The following lines, which urge the listener to "Writhe unfettered by your stabs at ignorance" and "Swim through hues and whispered tones of hearsay," paint a picture of a person who is struggling to make sense of their impending doom.


Overall, "The Red Death" is a powerful meditation on fear, death, and the human desire for escape. It is an excellent example of Thrice's ability to communicate complex emotional states through their music, and stands as one of the most powerful tracks on their album "The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV."


Line by Line Meaning

Entertain the hope that somehow you'll escape me
You believe there is a chance that you can escape me and avoid the inevitable.


Weld the bolts and close the iron gate
You can try to protect yourself by barricading yourself in, but it won't help.


Drink deeply the illusion of your safety
You are deceiving yourself into feeling safe and secure.


My how wishful thoughts inebriate, masquerade, and revel in your opulence
Your optimistic thoughts are intoxicating, superficial, and revel in your wealth and privilege.


Writhe unfettered by your stabs at ignorance
You are in agony and struggling despite your attempts to ignore the truth.


Swim through hues and whispered tones of here say
You are surrounded by rumors and gossip that you are wading through to try to discern the truth.


A dozen strokes to run your blood cold enough to believe
It will take something shocking, like a violent death, to make you finally accept the reality of your situation.


Remember me? You look so surprised to see me here
You didn't believe that death would come for you and now you are shocked that it has.


With hell's black wings did I over perch these walls
I am a terrifying and supernatural force that has overcome all obstacles to reach you.


For stony limits cannot hold me out
Nothing can stop death from claiming you once your time has come.


And now you all die
Your time has run out and death has come for you, as it does for all of us eventually.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUSTIN MICHAEL KENSRUE, EDWARD CARRINGTON BRECKENRIDGE, JAMES RILEY BRECKENRIDGE, TEPPEI TERANISHI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@SHIFTnopistons

My favorite Thrice track.

@robertlopez6276

Beautiful.

@DimensionLordWiggles

good god, has it been 11 years since this came out! i am getting old.

@inspector38

how does 20 years feel

@DimensionLordWiggles

Now I have a kid and living in Germany. Time flies.

@iwazhere7077

Entertain the hope that somehow you'll escape me
Weld the bolts and close the iron gate
Drink deeply the illusion of your safety
My, how wishful thoughts inebriate

Masquerade and revel in your opulence
Writhe unfettered by your stabs at ignorance
Swim through hues and whispered tones of heresy
A dozen strokes to run your blood cold enough to believe

Remember me?
You look so surprised to see me here
With hell's black wings did I o'er-perch these walls
For stony limits cannot hold me out
And now you all die

@mikalaile

This song is just perfect

@Dabomb1237

It's as if they were asked to make a song for a racing game, and they came through.

@Sterling177

"With hell's black wings did I o'er-perch these walls
For stony limits cannot hold me out"

Just realised this is inspired by Romeo:
"With love's light wings did I o'erperch these walls,
For stony limits cannot hold love out;"

@zyduck1329

Shoutout Edgar Allan Poe

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