Human by Of Monsters and Men Lyrics Meaning – Peeling Back the Layers of Our Primal Nature
Lyrics
Weigh heavy on the heart
I am lost
And lead only by the stars
Cage me like an animal
A crown with gems and gold
Eat me like a cannibal
Chasing the neon throne
Breathe in, breathe out
Let the human in
Breathe in, breathe out
And let it in
Plants awoke
And they slowly grow
Beneath the skin
So breathe in, breathe out
Let the human in
The air is silk
Shadows form a grill
If I lose control
I feed the beast within
Cage me like an animal
A crown with gems and gold
Eat me like a cannibal
Chase the neon throne
Breathe in, breathe out
Let the human in
Breathe in, breathe out
And let it in
Plants awoke
And they slowly grow
Beneath the skin
So breathe in, breathe out
Let the human in
Cage me like an animal
A crown with gems and gold
Eat me like a cannibal
Chase the neon throne
If I could only let go
The Icelandic indie folk-pop collective, Of Monsters and Men, has a penchant for crafting anthemic tracks that are as enigmatic as they are evocative. ‘Human,’ a lesser-known gem from their repertoire, is no exception. Released on their 2015 album ‘Beneath the Skin,’ this song is a haunting meditation on identity, control, and primal instinct.
Through ‘Human,’ Of Monsters and Men artistically blur the lines between our diurnal persona and the nocturnal creature lurking within. It becomes a powerful dialog between the civilized and the untamed parts of our psyche, clamoring for a harmony between the two. Let’s venture together into the hidden depths of what it truly means to let the ‘human in.’
Unshackling the Beast Within – A Step Towards Authenticity
The refrain ‘Cage me like an animal / A crown with gems and gold’ touches on the opulent imprisonment we often find ourselves in. We adorn ourselves with the trappings of success and societal accolades, but do these external affirmations truly satisfy our inner beast? Of Monsters and Men impel us to question whether we are feeding our true desires or are merely chasing the ‘neon throne’ – a metaphor for hollow victories that sparkle but do not sustain.
‘Eat me like a cannibal / Chasing the neon throne’ further dives into the self-destructive tendencies we indulge in while pursuing these superficial goals. The band uses powerful cannibalistic imagery to emphasize the internal violence we wreak upon our identities by denying our primal urges in favor of polished facades.
The Cosmic Dance of Chaos and Control
The opening lines, ‘When the words / Weigh heavy on the heart / I am lost / And lead only by the stars,’ capture the essence of being adrift in an ocean of expectations and obligations. The songwriters subtly hint at a cosmic guidance system, one that aligns with our inner compass and natural instincts, steering us away from contrived paths and towards authentic self-discovery.
‘If I lose control / I feed the beast within,’ paints a picture of an ongoing struggle for dominion over our base instincts. The beauty of ‘Human’ lies in its acknowledgement of this struggle while coaxing us to embrace the chaos that giving into our instincts can sometimes entail. This tension between control and surrender runs as a pulsing vein throughout the song.
Breathe Life Into Your Inner Flora – The Hidden Meaning
Perhaps one of the most intriguing metaphors in ‘Human’ is ‘Plants awoke / And they slowly grow / Beneath the skin.’ It speaks to an organic, almost naturalistic rebirth of the self. The ‘plants’ suggest ideas or facets of our being that have lain dormant, awaiting the right conditions—our breath, our life force—to stir them into growth.
The repetition of ‘Breathe in, breathe out / Let the human in’ serves as a grounding mantra. It’s a reminder that to nurture our inner ‘plants,’ there must be a rhythmic exchange with the world around us. Inhaling experience, exhaling expression, and through this respiratory dialogue, we allow ourselves to become more richly human.
Navigate the Silk Air and Grilled Shadows – The Symbolic Interplay
Mystic and obscure, ‘The air is silk / Shadows form a grill’ suggests a delicate balance between the ethereal and the obstructive elements of life. The ‘silk air’ symbolizes a state of grace or ease, whereas ‘shadows form a grill’ can represent the barriers we encounter or construct that might prevent us from fully inhaling our humanity.
This line captures the transient moments of clarity interspersed with the often-oppressive experiences that shape our existence. Even as we seek the lightness of being truly ‘Human,’ we are challenged by the darker aspects that might cage us or, paradoxically, the very constraints that might compel our growth.
Memorable Lines that Claw at the Listener’s Core
‘If I could only let go,’ the concluding plea, is an open-ended introspection that resonates with anyone on the brink of transformation. It is an admission of the difficulty inherent in shedding old skins and a yearning for the freedom that comes with fully owning one’s humanity.
It’s through these memorable lines that Of Monsters and Men stir a contemplative echo within us, leaving the listener mulling over the weight of words and the gravity of self-emancipation. ‘Human’ is not just a track; it’s an invocation of the listener’s own suppressed wilderness, a call to let it run free, not with reckless abandon, but with a conscious embrace.
