Hunt Again (1982)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of a cyclical, almost involuntary, predatory existence. The opening lines immediately establish a sense of being overwhelmed and incapacitated after a successful act of consumption, describing "assimilation's pain" and "indulgence's misshapen form." This isn't a triumphant feast, but a painful, transformative process that leaves the narrator paralyzed, hinting at a loss of self in the act of taking in another. The central tension lies in the narrator's self-identification as a "snake" compelled to "hunt again." This isn't a choice, but a survival imperative, as the repeated question "How do we survive?" underscores. The imagery of resuming "contours" suggests a shedding of the previous state, a necessary rebirth to re-enter the predatory cycle. It's a grim acknowledgment of an inescapable nature. The bridge offers a fascinating meta-commentary on this cycle, with the narrator observing their own actions with a detached weariness. The phrase "tired joke" and the admission "I watch myself" suggest a profound lack of agency, even as the narrator acknowledges the "maniacal rituals" driving them. When "reason turns to riot gear," the narrator loses control, reinforcing the idea that these actions are deeply ingrained and automatic, not consciously willed. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their unflinching portrayal of a destructive, self-perpetuating drive. The narrator's silent, sudden movements in the second verse, leaving only a "signature scrawled softly in the sand" as a trace of a "dead obsession," powerfully convey the ephemeral yet devastating impact of this predatory nature. It's a chilling exploration of being trapped by one's own essential being.