The Devil of Shakespeare

Song Meaning

This track paints a picture of intense, almost dangerous infatuation. The narrator is captivated by someone whose outward appearance masks a complex inner world, described as a "masquerading frown." This duality is what draws the narrator in, creating a magnetic pull that feels both exhilarating and unsettling, making their "senses pleasing" while simultaneously causing their "heart to freeze." The core tension lies in the contradictory nature of this fixation. The object of affection is simultaneously the "reason to live" and the "secret of sin," the "treason of love." This suggests a relationship that defies conventional morality, offering a thrilling, perhaps destructive, escape. The repeated phrase "the Devil of Shakespeare's the air tonight" elevates this feeling, implying a dramatic, almost theatrical, intensity to the present moment, a sense of grand, potentially tragic, romance. The lyrics employ striking imagery to convey this emotional turmoil. The idea of being "to the top of the slide" and "like a ticket to ride" suggests a loss of control, a surrender to an irresistible force. The narrator's self-description as a "castaway" and a "runaway train" further emphasizes this feeling of being swept away, unable to steer their own course. The recurring question, "no one can dare to whisper why," hints at an unspoken, perhaps forbidden, understanding or consequence associated with this powerful attraction. Ultimately, the song's effectiveness stems from its ability to articulate the intoxicating, yet precarious, thrill of a consuming obsession. The juxtaposition of life-giving and destructive forces, coupled with the dramatic, almost operatic, language, creates a potent emotional landscape. It captures that feeling when someone or something feels so overwhelmingly significant that it redefines your reality, for better or worse.