Come the Carnivore

Song Meaning

The lyrics to "Come the Carnivore" paint a stark, unsettling picture of an unnatural return and a predatory encounter. An empty tomb and "scraps of cloth and hair" hint at a violent resurrection, as an entity, despite being "burned," has inexplicably "returned." This sets an immediate tone of macabre dread. The narrative quickly shifts from observation to direct confrontation. A chilling question, "Who's knocking on my door?" is answered by the ominous arrival of "the carnivore." The lyrics leave no room for escape, declaring, "Now he eats your skin / You can't win," establishing a terrifying sense of futility and inescapable doom for the addressed party. Most chillingly, the perspective then shifts to the carnivore itself, revealing a twisted self-perception. It demands attention, stating, "Now you see my face / Agog at my grace," an ironic claim of beauty or power given its predatory nature. The entity boasts, "I have never died," before extending a dark, possessive invitation: "Be my bride." This culminates in a paradoxical offer: "Join me now in death / While life you possess." The carnivore presents "Death, eternally" as a "gift," a final, horrifying seduction. The stark imagery, simple yet relentless rhyme scheme, and the shift from observer to victim to predator combine to create an atmosphere of immediate, inescapable terror, making these lyrics deeply effective in their chilling impact.