Prelude of Agony
Type O Negative Lyrics

There is no pain like that of desire
The desire to obtain something can bring unbearable pain that cannot be compared to any other kind of pain.

Is there no difference between women and fire?
Women and fire can both burn, but there are obvious differences between them that cannot be ignored.

One burns the spirit
Women can leave a person emotionally drained and with a heavy heart, metaphorically burning the soul.

The other the flesh
Fire, on the other hand, physically burns the flesh.

Is sex worth the price of certain death?
Sex, although pleasurable, can lead to disastrous consequences that may not be worth the risk.

Absolution I am whole Absolution I am
Seeking forgiveness brings a sense of wholeness and completeness to the person who seeks it.

Open her loins and into the hearth
Having sex with a woman is compared to lighting a fire in a hearth.

Don't let her flames consume your heart
Don't let the passionate flames of sex burn so brightly that it leaves no room in your heart for anything else.

For the quest of holy copulation
Desiring to have sex may feel like a holy quest to some, as if it is a sacred act.

The end result? Self immoliation
This quest for sex can lead to self-destruction, metaphorically 'self immoliation,' or burning oneself as a sacrifice.

Love is life Life is love Love is pain Pain is death
Love is complex, as it can bring happiness and fulfillment, but can also lead to pain and even death.

Agony and ecstacy Your cries of pain my pleasure
The pleasure that some people take in another's pain can be seen as cruel and perverse.

To know my machine internally Your torment I treasure
The singer enjoys knowing how his partner's body works, as well as the pleasure he takes in their pain.

Lifeblood combines with semen Your screaming my laughter The compressor is running smoothly 'Tis vengeance I am after
This gruesome imagery is a metaphor for the violent sexual encounter between the singer and his partner, as well as his desire for revenge.

Begging becomes your lovesong You're dying I masturbate
The singer takes pleasure in his partner's cries for help, even as they are dying, and enjoys the act of masturbation.

For the crime of burning me I give to thee Jackhammerape
The singer seeks revenge against his partner for hurting him by giving them the nickname 'Jackhammerape.'

Pain Pain Pain Pain (Pain)
Repeatedly stating the word 'pain' emphasizes the theme of pain running throughout the song.