Cannibal
Tolstoys Lyrics
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Lived a tyrant who ate female hearts
He closed the gate and she was jailed
He closed her eyes and she was dead
Hey mister president
Don′t you see your crime?
Are you proud of your reign
Hey mister president
Don′t you see your crime?
Are you proud of your reign
Don't you hear your people cry?
Every day he enchants one of his lambs
By his magic, it was just a game
Cold meat lay on the stage
Cruelty has aftermaths
Hey mister president
Don't you see your crime?
Are you proud of your reign
Don′t you hear your people cry?
Hey mister president
Don′t you see your crime?
Are you proud of your reign
Don't you hear your people cry?
I see bait, but i feel pain
I see lure, ops, he ate another heart again
I see bait, but i feel pain
I see lure, ops, he ate another heart again
Oh no, it was mine today
I feel love, but i feel pain
My heart is gone
Remains only bloodstain
The song "Cannibal" by Tolstoys tells the story of a tyrant who ate the hearts of women, leaving them dead and forgotten. The lyrics open with a reference to the "faraway past" suggesting that this is not a contemporary issue, rather an allusion to crimes committed by rulers in history. The tyrant is portrayed as a monster, who jails and kills women by eating their hearts. The use of the word "enchants" in the second verse indicates that these crimes were not seen as evil but were committed as a form of entertainment by the tyrant. Unsurprisingly, the cruel actions of the tyrant lead to cries and protests from the people he reigns over.
The chorus of the song sees the singer addressing the tyrant directly, asking him if he can see the error of his ways and if he is proud of his tyranny, pointing out that his people are crying. The final verse takes a more personal turn as the singer realizes that they too have fallen for the tyrant's charm and that they too have become a victim. The lyrics suggest that even those who are not directly affected by the tyrant's actions become victims, and that the effects of his cruelty are far-reaching.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon the time in the faraway past
In the distant past, there existed a tyrant and a cruel dictator.
Lived a tyrant who ate female hearts
The tyrant was known for his savagery and for destroying women.
He closed the gate and she was jailed
He confined the women to his territory and caged them.
He closed her eyes and she was dead
He was capable of killing the women held captive at any moment.
Hey mister president
Addressing the head of state, the poem seeks to know his sense of justice.
Don′t you see your crime?
Asking the ruler to recognize the severity of the situation.
Are you proud of your reign
Asking the head of state whether they are proud of their tyranny.
Don′t you hear your people cry?
The poem underscores the visible sufferings of the people and wonders if the head of state is too sequestered to hear their plea.
Every day he enchants one of his lambs
The dictator lulls his victims into a false sense of security.
By his magic, it was just a game
Through his tricks, the tyrant shows how depraved and cruel he is.
Cold meat lay on the stage
The stage is a metaphor for the positioning of his victims like pawns on a chessboard.
Cruelty has aftermaths
The poem acknowledges that atrocities would not go without its consequences.
I see bait, but i feel pain
As an observer, the poet notices deception and feels hurt.
I see lure, ops, he ate another heart again
The poet caught a glimpse of the tyrant's perfidiousness and how it destroyed another woman.
Oh no, it was mine today
The poet's feelings of hurt shift to personal pains as they realize they lost someone they loved to the dictator.
I feel love, but i feel pain
The poet acknowledges the love felt but also acknowledged the hurt experienced.
My heart is gone
The poet expresses grief over the loss of their heart and its connection.
Remains only bloodstain
The last line is symbolic of the finality of the victim's suffering and how it will never be forgotten.
Writer(s): Michal Smetana, Ela Tolstova, Frederika Camastrova, Matej Herceg, Marek Votruba
Contributed by Lucas D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.