He Is Here, He Is Not Afraid

Song Meaning

The lyrics immediately plunge into a primal, almost desperate scene. Actions are driven by "instinct, darling," as the narrator describes a chaotic struggle. Images of "hands be hatchets" and a "forest made of flesh" paint a vivid picture of a world both brutal and visceral. It's a raw, unflinching look at survival. A core tension emerges from the overwhelming sense of futility. The collective "we" attempts to "dull the horror Of a city still on fire," but the effort feels tragically insufficient. The striking image of "medics handling suicide By cyanide with bleeding fingers" perfectly captures this inadequacy, suggesting a desperate, painful struggle against an inevitable end. Despite their efforts, they are "Completely inadequate." The lyrics juxtapose moments of tender intimacy with stark, aggressive defiance. The shift to "We move like lovers, darling" and "kiss you right below the eye" offers a brief, fragile connection amidst the chaos. Yet, even this intimacy is framed by a fierce rejection of despair, as the narrator confronts "horror" directly, threatening to "tear a hole in you, you harlot." This personification of fear transforms it into an enemy to be actively fought. Ultimately, the lyrics build to a profoundly unsettling climax: a direct, almost confrontational address to a divine power. The narrator holds a "body to your judgment," not begging for salvation, but explicitly pleading, "Please pick wrath." This shocking request for destruction over mercy suggests a profound disillusionment, perhaps a belief that only a complete, cleansing annihilation can resolve the unbearable suffering depicted. It's a powerful, defiant rejection of conventional hope.