Meaning of “Before I Forget” by Slipknot

It has been noted the lyrics of this song are intentionally open to interpretation. But that said, it has also been reported that “Before I Forget”, as explained by lead vocalist / co-writer Corey Taylor, is “about standing your ground and deciding to be a good person, no matter what people say”. And there are segments of the song that can be interpreted in that sorta way, i.e. as the vocalist taking a stand against immorality, that’s being encouraged by someone in his life.

Verse 1

The first verse, however, wouldn’t be one of those segments. Underneath all of the poetic lingo, it is possible to discern certain sentiments. The problem is that said sentiments seem to conflict with one another.

It reads as if the vocalist is presenting himself as somewhat as an outcast, albeit one who has grown accustomed to being different. But at the same time, judging by the last line of the verse, he’s “just caught up in all the cattle”, a statement which, in context, sounds as if Corey is entrapped in the rat race, being an average person, if you will.

But with that being observed, we are also introduced to a particular addressee, one who is presented as giving “sordid little instructions” to Taylor, thus connoting the impression that said individual is not only an imposing but also negative influence on the vocalist’s life.

Chorus

The wording of the first pre-chorus then proceeds to read as if, initially, said individual is once again in the process of exerting their will, i.e. ‘fraying the strings’ and ‘throwing the shapes’, upon the vocalist. 

But then, Corey ends the stanza by apparently telling this person to “hold your breath… listen” as if this time around, he’s not going to allow himself to be used. And it is also along those lines that the actual chorus is based, i.e. the singer seemingly asserting his self-worth in the name of not letting others, such as the addressee, devalue him.

In other words, as far as the title goes, what Corey is not allowing himself to forget is that he was “a world before… a man” and “a creature before (he) could stand”. Of course those are pretty ambiguous statements, as to be expected from Slipknot. But as generally understood they are speaking to the vocalist’s personal evolution in a manner of speaking, especially as far as that second statement goes.

In terms of being “a world before… a man”, that former attribute is obviously greater than the latter. But maybe what Corey is trying to get at in that regard is acknowledging the worth and potential of a human being in general, i.e. our ability to dominate the world, in a manner of speaking. Or either way you flip it, as such he does not have to allow himself to be devalued by anyone, including the addressee at hand.

“Am a world before I am a man
I was a creature before I could stand
I will remember before I forget
Before I forget that!”

Verse 2

The second verse then goes on to buttress the notion that said addressee is indeed a toxic influence in Taylor’s life. It appears as if their relationship is so close that the “twisted little indiscretions” of this person has an adverse effect on the vocalist. Moreover, Corey goes on to imply that their association is such that he doesn’t have equal power or opportunity to exert influence over the addressee as is vice versa.

Pre-Chorus 2

So perhaps being indicative of the narrator’s progression of thought, the second pre-chorus sounds a bit more forceful, as if he is now ready to take a stand. Or at least that’s one way to make sense out of statements such as “locked in clutch” and “pushed in place”, followed once again by the instruction to “hold your breath” and “listen”.

The Bridge

A short time after comes the bridge. All things considered, it can be hypothesized that this part of the song represents the singer’s self-analysis in terms of why he has become so timid (in relation to the addressee).  For instance, he presents himself as a procrastinator and someone who is reluctant to see things through to the end. But again, it’s more or less up to the listener’s own interpretation to try to ascertain what’s being relayed.

For instance, it isn’t abundantly clear why in this selfsame bridge, the vocalist is compelled to relay that ‘his end justifies his means’. 

But maybe what he’s trying to say, in context what else is being emitted in this passage, is that he has his own reasons – or let’s say excuses – for allowing the addressee, as unfavorable as he or she may be, to have such a commanding presence in his life. It’s as if he is rationalizing the perpetuation of his relationship with this toxic individual.

The Interlude

And with that in mind, it is interesting to note that the interlude, which ultimately closes out the track, consists of the phrase “you’re wasting it” being repeated. That can be taken as the vocalist letting the addressee know that if he or she doesn’t clean up their act, he’s going to end the relationship – spoiling a good thing for this individual actually, as it’s not every day a bad person comes across someone who’s willing to tolerate all of their negativity. 

Or perhaps Corey is telling that to himself, as a reminder that he’s wasting his life away, so to speak, by allowing himself to be so closely linked to and affected by an unscrupulous individual.

The Long and Short of “Before I Forget”

There are a plethora of interpretations of “Before I Forget” available, and there doesn’t appear to be any consensus as to this song’s meaning. But the aforenoted Corey Taylor quote reads pretty spot-on. That is to say that what’s being put forth can be interpreted as being relayed by someone who has grown weary of being used by an individual of “sordid” and ‘indiscrete’ character. But apparently, breaking away from this addressee, due to the vocalist’s own personality, is easier said than done.