Buried Alive – The Inescapable Throes of Darkness and Liberation
Lyrics
When the voices screaming are much too loud
Take a look in the distance
Try and see it all
Chances are that you might find
That we share a common discomfort now
I feel I’m walking a fine line
Tell me only if it’s real
Still, I’m on my way
(On and on it goes)
Vacant hope to take
Hey, I can’t live in here for another day
Darkness has kept the light concealed
Grim as ever
Hold on to faith as I dig another grave
Meanwhile, the mice endure the wheel
Real as ever
And it seems I’ve been buried alive
I walked the fields through the fire
Taking steps until I found solid ground
Followed dreams, reaching higher
Couldn’t survive the fall
Much has changed since the last time
And I feel a little less certain now
You know, I jumped at the first sign
Tell me only if it’s real
Memories seem to fade
(On and on it goes)
Wash my view away
Hey, I can’t live in here for another day
Darkness has kept the light concealed
Grim as ever
Hold on to faith as I dig another grave
Meanwhile, the mice endure the wheel
Real as ever
And I’m chained like a slave
Trapped in the dark
Slammed all the locks
Death calls my name
And it seems I’ve been buried alive
Take you down now
Burn it all out
Throw you all around
Get your fucking hands off me
What’s it feel like?
Took the wrong route
Watch it fall apart
Now you’re knockin’ at the wrong gate
For you to pay the toll
A price for you alone
The only deal you’ll find
I’ll gladly take your soul
While it seems sick
Sober up quick
Psycho lunatic
Crushing you with hands of fate
Shame to find out when it’s too late
But you’re all the same
Trapped inside, inferno awaits
Evil thoughts can hide
I’ll help release the mind
I’ll peel away the skin
Release the dark within
This is now your life
Strike you from the light
This is now your life
Die buried alive
This is now your life (what’s it feel like?)
Strike you from the light (let me take in your soul)
This is now your life (what’s it feel like?)
Die buried alive (let me take in your soul)
This is now your life
Die buried alive
At the intersection of metal and melody, Avenged Sevenfold’s ‘Buried Alive’ emerges as a modern-day anthem of struggle, despair, and the search for rebirth. The track, a standout from their 2010 album ‘Nightmare’, encapsulates a journey through the depths of personal hell, inviting listeners to peel back layers of its intricate sound and introspective lyrics.
A cerebral piece of artistry, ‘Buried Alive’ is a revelation of human vulnerability, an exploration of being trapped in one’s own dismal reality, and a battle cry for liberation from within. The brilliance of Avenged Sevenfold is evident as they entwine aggressive instrumentals with poignant storytelling, crafting a song that doesn’t just resonate—it reverberates through the very core of the listener’s being.
A Siren in the Silence: Decoding the Shout for Understanding
The song opens with a plea to ‘Take the time just to listen,’ a powerful call to empathy in the cacophony of life’s trials. As frontman M. Shadows’s voice wields the power of a man on the brink, the band doesn’t just paint a picture—they drag you into the canvas. The common ‘discomfort’ spoken of is a thread that connects humanity, an acknowledgment of the collective anxiety and trepidation felt across the societal spectrum.
In ‘Buried Alive’, this acknowledgement acts as a double-edged sword, both uniting and isolating. It invites solidarity in shared experience, while also scrutinizing the elusive nature of reality. The question ‘Tell me only if it’s real’ isn’t just about seeking truth; it’s an introspective examination of perception, belief, and the blurred lines between.
Into the Abyss: The Visceral Imagery of Descent
Avenged Sevenfold showcases their gift for intense imagery with lines like ‘Darkness has kept the light concealed’ and ‘Hold on to faith as I dig another grave.’ The vividness of each verse likening daily struggle to an eternal dig creates a chilling resonance. It’s the pursuit of faith amidst the overshadowing darkness that imparts a grim sense of determination unto listeners—fueling both the song’s gravitas and its unnervingly haunting undertones.
The strong portrayal of ‘the mice endure the wheel’ highlights the Sisyphean reality of existence, trotting endlessly towards an invariably distant goal. It personifies the gnawing persistence required to move through life, often without respite, and the monstrous wheels of fate that crush indiscriminately.
Chained in Shadow: The Struggle Against Invisible Bonds
The song’s bridge is a narrative twist that binds despair and defiance. As the lyric ‘And I’m chained like a slave, trapped in the dark’ bellows, it exposes the visceral fight against unseen shackles. These lyrics might reflect personal demons, societal judgments, or the haunting grip of past decisions, but where they truly resonate is in their universal relatability.
The acknowledgment that ‘Death calls my name’ juxtaposes mortality with the concept of being ‘buried alive,’ suggesting that one can be consumed by the figurative death of losing oneself while still existing in the corporeal sense. It’s a stark metaphor for being subdued by the weight of life’s darker moments.
Inferno’s Embrace: Unearthing the Hidden Meanings
Delving deeper into the existential fabric, ‘Buried Alive’ can be interpreted as a layered metaphor for the human condition. Its acknowledgment of internal infernos and the doomed efforts to escape fate sketch a portrait of mankind’s proclivity for self-sabotage and the ensnaring nature of mental anguish.
The duality of ‘Evil thoughts can hide; I’ll help release the mind’ serves as the song’s fulcrum, contrasting the suppression of one’s sinister impulses with the cathartic release of acknowledging and confronting them. Avenged Sevenfold posits the notion that recognizing one’s darkness is the cremation ground for rebirth and the inception point for carving a passage to enlightenment.
Echoes That Haunt: The Track’s Most Memorable Lines
The devastating blow of the song’s climax comes in its recurring proclamation—’This is now your life; Die buried alive.’ The line exemplifies the ultimate consequence of yielding to one’s despair. It’s an eerie reminder of the potential finality of surrender, sung with heart-wrenching conviction, and it’s the moment where hope can either flourish or wither.
Yet, it’s not just a surrender to darkness; it’s a stark confrontation with reality. The line ‘Let me take in your soul’ is equally commanding, implying a plea—or perhaps a demand—for transcendence, for ownership of one’s fate, and for the strength to emerge from the depths rejuvenated. It’s reminiscent of both a challenge and a promise: to own one’s existence entirely, however fraught it may be.
