Cheating the Polygraph

Song Meaning

The lyrics immediately plunge into a cycle of deceit. The narrator admits to "Lying through my teeth again," a habitual pattern of avoiding truth. This isn't just casual dishonesty; it's a deliberate "skirting 'round the truth" to evade external judgment. A profound internal conflict drives these lines. The narrator acknowledges "Losing my integrity" and chillingly claims, "I don't mind." Yet, later, a stark shift occurs with "God, I'm so ashamed this time," revealing a deep, painful crack in that hardened facade. This oscillation between apathy and acute shame is the core tension. The repeated chorus, "Feel my soul going / Feel my soul, colder," serves as a stark, visceral consequence. It's not just a feeling of guilt, but a profound, almost physical, chilling of the inner self. This imagery of a soul losing its warmth and vitality powerfully conveys the cumulative toll of "black lies" and "blackening my soul again." The effectiveness lies in this unflinching portrayal of self-inflicted moral decay. The narrator's initial detachment, even calling lying "my style," makes the sudden confession of shame in the final verse hit harder. It suggests that even the most practiced deceiver can't entirely escape the internal erosion, leaving listeners with a chilling sense of the true cost of habitual dishonesty.