Circus
Tristania (Ashes - 2005) Lyrics
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Hooded and tagged
They're all yours to command
I am corpse, I am carrion prey
I have a crow at each brow
Plucking eyes in my mask of death
The darkness is complete
Who's the hooded one, mother mine?
Who is gagged when all are silent?
And bitten when we move
Inflamed! My mask is burning
The night is dead; dark, putrid flesh turning
Upon a chair in the dying corner
I am your bagful of fear
I'll commit, I'll admit
I'll be the dagger, drive me in
I'll be all motionless and still
My river runs within - still and deep
I am beast, I am carrion prey to the Cyclops tribe
String me up to a cherry tree
Come one, come all - and hang with me
I'm already hogtied - entangled in your marionette strings
I am dancing
The embodiment of fear
A shake for every fearful tear
A ruckus for the righteous
In the end
They no longer know
Cast stones into mirrors - onto themselves
Mother mine!
Stab yourself, mother mine
Bleed your own river, dark and wide
Mine runs within, still and deep
Don't shake me so, it will overflow
The lyrics of Circus by Tristania are dark, twisted and cryptic. The song seems to describe a ritualistic gathering of some kind, where the participants are tied up, gagged and at the mercy of the hooded ones. The singer of the song appears to be a corpse or carrion, with crows plucking at their eyes. The darkness is complete and the atmosphere is one of fear and dread. The lyrics also suggest that there is an element of cannibalism or sacrifice involved, as the participants are being bitten and consumed by the hooded ones. The singer of the song seems to be addressing their mother, asking her who the hooded one is and why they are being subjected to this terrifying experience.
The chorus of the song speaks of the singer's willingness to participate in the ritual, stating that they will be the dagger and that their river runs still and deep. They seem to be embracing their fate and surrendering to the darkness. In the second verse, the lyrics take on a more universal tone, as the singer becomes a beast and carrion prey to the Cyclops tribe. They invite others to hang with them, as they are already entangled in the strings of the marionette. The final verse is a call to action, as the singer urges their mother to stab herself and bleed her own river, while their own runs deep and still.
Line by Line Meaning
Tied up and gagged
Restrained and silenced
Hooded and tagged
Blinded and labeled, assigned an identity
They're all yours to command
Subject to your control and authority
I am corpse, I am carrion prey
I am dead and decaying, a feast for scavengers
I have a crow at each brow
Birds symbolizing death perch on my forehead
Plucking eyes in my mask of death
Extracting organs from my lifeless form
The darkness is complete
Total absence of light
Who's the hooded one, mother mine?
Who is this figure of authority?
Who is gagged when all are silent?
Who is silenced even when there is no sound?
And bitten when we move
Subjected to harm when we try to act
Inflamed! My mask is burning
My disguise is on fire
The night is dead; dark, putrid flesh turning
The darkness is unsettling and rotting
Upon a chair in the dying corner
Sitting in a place of death and decay
I am your bagful of fear
I embody your worst nightmares
I'll commit, I'll admit
I will take ownership of my actions
I'll be the dagger, drive me in
I will be the instrument of harm
I'll be all motionless and still
I will not resist
My river runs within - still and deep
My emotions are hidden and not easily expressed
I am beast, I am carrion prey to the Cyclops tribe
I am an animal hunted by a savage group
String me up to a cherry tree
Hang me from a beautiful but deadly plant
Come one, come all - and hang with me
I invite others to share in my fate
I'm already hogtied - entangled in your marionette strings
I am already a puppet controlled by outside forces
I am dancing
I am moving to your tune
The embodiment of fear
A representation of terror
A shake for every fearful tear
A movement in time with every frightened cry
A ruckus for the righteous
A disturbance to those who believe they are doing right
In the end
Ultimately
They no longer know
They have lost understanding
Cast stones into mirrors - onto themselves
Blame others for their own flaws
Mother mine!
Addressing a maternal figure
Stab yourself, mother mine
Hurt yourself, mother figure
Bleed your own river, dark and wide
Experience your own intense emotions
Mine runs within, still and deep
My feelings exist but are suppressed
Don't shake me so, it will overflow
Do not provoke me, my emotions will come pouring out
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HOWARD HELM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Pr1est0fDoom
This one, "Libre" and "The Wretched" are some of the scariest songs I've listened to... The music is dark, the lyrics are so twisted, the voices are creepy... If you listen to this at night when you're alone and pay close attention to the lyrics, you'll get what I mean... That's why Ashes is my favorite Tristania album!
@nikmastas
Best tristania album.
@Kysentha
FINALLY someone uploaded this song!
@go3cia
2018 Nd still Rocks!... Years now since last time I heard this track!
@vanessaweber
There's something about it those whole album in general that is off. In a good way. It fills you with a sense of powerful dread and fear. It's so creepy! It's so great and addictive. Each album has a different effect and feel for me, and this one just happens to creep me out. I love Tristania!
@warpholak
Hmm... this song always brought in my mind Samael's After the Sepulture... Excellent, both of them...
@Griefshire16
Totally agree World of Glass is their best album!!!! Great song!!
@oftanmologia
MUY BUENA
@jasonelliott9255
shot for putting lyrics in
@TheBlackAsphodel
@lateralex90 I agree with you!!!!!