After the Flesh

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a stark, almost apocalyptic vision, positioning the speaker as a harbinger of a new, perhaps digital or purely conceptual, existence. The repeated assertion, "I am the way of the future," acts as a mantra, contrasting sharply with the imagery of violence and carnal indulgence. This creates an immediate tension between a promised evolution and the brutal realities described. The central conflict seems to be between a spiritual or intellectual "new way" and the base, physical "flesh" that the speaker seeks to transcend or infect. The narrator describes "things, things, things of the flesh" being urged to "do it slow," while simultaneously witnessing extreme violence like brains being blown out. This juxtaposition suggests a world where physical existence is both decadent and brutally terminated, making the "way of the future" an escape from this messy reality. The repeated phrase "infect your carnal mind, mind, mind, mind" is particularly striking. It implies a forceful, almost viral takeover of consciousness, moving beyond mere physical temptation to a deeper mental corruption. The image of walking through forests with "ugly spirits" and finding them "calm" until money runs out further complicates this, suggesting that even the spiritual or supernatural is susceptible to material decay, reinforcing the idea that the "flesh" and its failings are pervasive. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their unsettling blend of prophetic pronouncements and visceral, often violent, imagery. The narrator's self-proclaimed status as the "way of the future" feels less like a benevolent guide and more like an inevitable, perhaps destructive, force. The constant refrain, coupled with images of "crucified" innocents and "blown out brains," leaves the listener with a sense of dread and a questioning of what this future truly entails, especially when the body "suffers after the flesh."