By Demons Be Driven by Pantera Lyrics Meaning – Unearthing the Dark Interpretations in Metal
Lyrics
Abduction the oath
It lie in wait for the offering
Religion is old
For drawing the young
Purity withers and dies
Never return to the ones that provided
Children draining parents of will
I hold out my hand to bloodless child
I’m taken by the one I was saving
From death (death, death, death)
By demons, be driven (driven)
By demons, be driven (be driven)
Oh
Beckon the call, beckon the call
Beckon the call, beckon the call
Beckon the call, beckon the call
Beckon the call, beckon the call
With decline in mind, end not far
We’re left hanging alone here
He pulls us from nails
Shatters our bones
Leaving us crippled and strewn
Boiling my corpse in the blood of his children
Praying for his god to prevail
Burying us with loved ones
To sleep with shelled children
Of the sixth dimension (dimension, dimension, dimension)
By demons, be driven (driven)
By demons, be driven (be driven)
Oh
Beckon the call, beckon the call
Beckon the call, beckon the call
Beckon the call, beckon the call
Beckon the call, beckon the call
By demons, be driven (driven)
By demons, be driven (be driven)
Oh
Beckon the call, beckon the call
Beckon the call, beckon the call
Beckon the call, beckon the call
Beckon the call, beckon the call
By (beckon the call, beckon the call) (by demons)
Demons (beckon the call, beckon the call) (be driven)
Be (beckon the call, beckon the call) (by demons)
Driven (beckon the call, beckon the call) (be driven)
Pantera, a name that reverberates with unbridled energy and raw power, bestowed upon the world a track with chilling depths in ‘By Demons Be Driven.’ Beyond the guttural screams and heavy riffs that form the exoskeleton of this iconic metal anthem, lies a marrow of meaning that provokes thought and confrontation with the darker aspects of human nature.
The song is a relentless barrage of emotion and philosophy juxtaposed against the backdrop of aggressive instrumentals, emblematic of Pantera’s status as titans of the genre. What demons drive us, and where does this infernal trajectory lead? Together we delve into the ominous narrative painted by this track and its reflection of inner and societal conflicts.
Chasing Shadows: The Visceral Imagery and the Fight Within
Pantera crafts a vivid, almost cinematic landscape through their lyrics in ‘By Demons Be Driven.’ The words are ripe with a cacophony of religious undertones and life’s incessant trials that suggest an ongoing battle between purity and corruption, youth and decay. The song paints a world where the innocent are not only led astray but are drained of their essence, leaving a void where belief and virtue once stood.
This speaks voluminously to a common struggle within all; the constant tussle against the darker aspects of our nature. Could it be that the demons are metaphors for the innate vices and temptations that lie within us all? Pantera propels the listener to acknowledge them, to confront the inner daemons that we carry in our walk through life.
Contrasts in Condemnation: Religion’s Role and Its Ironies
Religion emerges in ‘By Demons Be Driven’ not as a sanctuary, but as a sinister player in an age-old game of manipulation. The narrative suggests a critique of how faith, often perceived as an instrument of purity, becomes a mechanism for exploitation and control. Pantera’s perspective casts a foreboding light on how religion can prey on the young and innocent, leading them into a pit of disillusionment.
Lyrics like ‘Religion is old for drawing the young, purity withers and dies’ might be interpreted as a scathing commentary on the hypocrisy of institutionalized belief systems and their impact on shaping the human spirit. It’s a jarring examination of the corrosive effect that misplaced faith can have on the individual and the collective ethos of society.
A Cacophony of Despair: Breaking Down to Break Out
The line ‘He pulls us from nails, shatters our bones’ resonates as a symbol of our inescapable mortality and the intrinsic suffering of the human condition. Within this maelstrom of pain and the stark brutality of the lyrics lies a strange form of catharsis. ‘By Demons Be Driven’ drags the listener through a gauntlet of despair, perhaps suggesting that through such experiences, one might emerge purged, or at least enlightened to their reality.
Pantera mirrors our own suffering and the collective aches of humanity through their art. In the relentless confrontation with pain, there’s an unspoken hope that in acknowledging the tribulations that hobble us, we may somehow find the strength to rise above them, even when crippled by the weight of existence.
Delving into the Sixth Dimension: The Song’s Hidden Meaning
Amidst all the overt angst and aggression lies a hidden layer within ‘By Demons Be Driven.’ The mention of ‘shelled children of the sixth dimension’ evokes images of otherworldly beings or planes of existence. It can be theorized that Pantera speaks to the concept of transcending beyond the physical and into the spiritual or metaphysical – a multidimensional plane where one’s demons hold dominion.
However, such transcendence is not painted as an escape but as a further entanglement within the binds of complex, perhaps even cosmic, struggles. This cryptic line could signify an existential awakening or, in stark contrast, could hint at the inevitable entrapment in cycles of contention and strife, whether in this world or beyond.
Echoing Through Eternity: The Song’s Most Memorable Lines
‘By demons, be driven’ – the mantra repeated throughout the song, stitches together the fabric of the narrative. This powerful line echoes the sentiment of being compelled, whether by external forces or internal drives, to journey through the inferno of life’s darker moments.
There’s an enigmatic beauty in the simplicity and the repetition of these words. They hammer home the presence of the unseen forces that motivate or torment us, often beyond our control. It’s a universal call that resonates with the listener, leaving an indelible mark and a reflection of the potent energy that Pantera commands through their music.





