My Tunnels Are Long And Dark These Days

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of self-imposed isolation, framing love as a dangerous force to be avoided. The narrator addresses a "friend," urging them to embrace the safety of darkness and the "tunnels" that "never end." This isn't about literal underground living, but a metaphorical retreat from the perceived perils of the outside world and emotional vulnerability. The repeated assertion that "you have nothing to fear, my friend, except for love" establishes this central, unsettling premise immediately. This retreat is contrasted sharply with the "hungry crocodiles" who "dance in the light." These figures seem to represent those who engage with the world, perhaps aggressively or superficially, in the harsh glare of day. The narrator questions the appeal of this illuminated existence, asking "what's up there besides the darkness of the night?" This rhetorical question reinforces the belief that the external world, despite its apparent vibrancy, offers no true solace, only a different kind of danger or emptiness compared to the familiar, albeit bleak, comfort of the "tunnels." The core of the song's emotional weight lies in the narrator's insistence that "to love is to pretend" and the dire warning, "Don't try to love yourself again." This suggests a deep-seated pain associated with self-acceptance and connection, leading to a preference for the "darkness" where "the darkness stays." The lyrics propose a peculiar solidarity among those who choose this path, distinguishing themselves as "a different sort of breed of men" from the "freaks" who might attempt to "love yourself again." The repeated imagery of moles, "blind against the dark," underscores this chosen state of being, a deliberate turning away from the light and its potential for both exposure and pain.