Satanist by Boygenius Lyrics Meaning – Diving Deep into the Anthem of Disillusionment

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Boygenius's Satanist at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Will you be a satanist with me?
Mortgage off your soul to buy your dream
Vacation home in Florida
The collateral the devil’s repossessing from me
Trying to score some off-brand ecstasy

Will you be an anarchist with me?
Sleep in cars and kill the bourgeoisie
At least until you find out what a fake I am
Spray-paint my initials on an ATM
I’d burn my cash and smash my old TV

Will you be a nihilist with me?
If nothing matters, man, that’s a relief
Solomon had a point when he wrote Ecclesiastes
If nothing can be known, then stupidity is holy
If the void becomes a bore, we’ll treat ourselves to some self-belief

(Oh, you know what I should do?)

You wonder
If you can even be seen
From so far away
A slow pull, a seismic drift
Leaning over the edge of the continent
It’s so hard to come back
You hang on until it drags
You under
You under
You under
You under

When Boygenius, the indie rock supergroup composed of Julian Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus, released ‘Satanist,’ fans swiftly found themselves entangled in the complex tapestry of its lyrics. The song is a poetically charged journey through modern existentialism, social commentary, and personal reflection that demands a closer examination.

At the heart of ‘Satanist’ is a series of propositions that challenge the listener’s core beliefs, wrapped in the deceptive simplicity of its indie rock sound. It’s a song that serves both as an anthem for a disenchanted generation and a mirror reflecting the incoherence echoing through our contemporary lives.

A Pact with Modern Discontent: Mortgaging Souls for Material Dreams

The song opens with lines that establish a clear juxtaposition between the satanic metaphor and the consumerist culture that engulfs society. ‘Will you be a satanist with me? Mortgage off your soul to buy your dream’ becomes a chilling invitation to ponder how far we’ll go to achieve the hollow victories of comfort and status.

The ‘vacation home in Florida’ speaks to the often-unattainable American Dream, suggesting that the pursuit of happiness might be synonymous with a deal with the devil. This metaphor extends to the pressures of maintaining such an appearance, where ‘the collateral the devil’s repossessing from me’ points to the inevitable downfall that accompanies the chase for material satisfaction.

The Allure of Anarchy: Romanticizing Rebellion

Progressing from the personal to the political, ‘Will you be an anarchist with me?’ throws the listener into a fantasy of resistance against the prevailing system. By suggesting ‘Sleep in cars and kill the bourgeoisie,’ the song connects with youthful romanticism tied to revolution and the desire to disrupt the status quo.

Yet, in the same breath, Boygenius reveals the inadequacies that often accompany revolutionary ideals. The acknowledgment of the narrator’s perceived phoniness ‘until you find out what a fake I am’ humanizes the facade and strips the revolution of its glamour, leaving behind the shallow acts of rebellion, ‘Spray-paint my initials on an ATM.’

Embracing Nihilism’s Cold Comfort: The Search for Meaning in a Meaningless World

The lyric ‘Will you be a nihilist with me?’ introduces the philosophical notion that life is inherently devoid of meaning, bestowing a twisted sort of freedom upon the listener. Boygenius plays with the interplay between the light-hearted ‘man, that’s a relief’ and the sobering citation of Solomon’s Ecclesiastes, a text famously rife with existential musings.

In this act of camaraderie in the face of the abyss, ‘If the void becomes a bore, we’ll treat ourselves to some self-belief’ serves as a declaration of coping – the last resort against the encroaching dark. This oscillation between surrendering to the void and clawing back with self-belief encapsulates the song’s existential dilemma.

The Song’s Hidden Meaning: Isolated Together on the Edge of Realization

Taking a step back from the immediate narratives, ‘Satanist’ echoes with a deeper resonance, addressing the undercurrent of isolation that permeates modern existence. The verse ‘You wonder / If you can even be seen / From so far away’ touches on the profound disconnection individuals can feel even in a hyper-connected society.

Further, the ‘seismic drift’ and ‘leaning over the edge of the continent’ metaphorically suggests the disintegration of communal bonds and the fear that we might be the last ones standing before an existential precipice, unsure whether to hold onto the vestiges of belief or let go entirely.

Memorable Lines that Capture the Zeitgeist: ‘The Void Becomes a Bore’

In a song teeming with poignant observations, ‘If the void becomes a bore, we’ll treat ourselves to some self-belief’ stands out as particularly memorable. It captures a generational sentiment of fatigue with the apparent emptiness of contemporary life and a sardonic resolve to believe in something, anything, to stave off ennui.

This line, along with others like ‘Trying to score some off-brand ecstasy’ and ‘I’d burn my cash and smash my old TV,’ distills the disillusionment of a generation that is at once cynical and desperately in search of authenticity within the chaos of the modern condition.