For the Snakes

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a landscape of decay where human-made grandeur and natural overgrowth intertwine. "Fine, fine columns" emerge from "pond scum," creating a scene of neglected opulence. A mysterious "we" repeatedly asserts an impending arrival, promising to find new purpose in these forgotten remnants. The central tension arises from the contrast between what was once valued and its current state of disrepair, coupled with the assertive declaration of a coming re-evaluation. The "you" appears to represent the creators or owners of these once-grand but now "abandoned things," while the "we" embodies a force ready to expose and repurpose them. This suggests a quiet but firm judgment on superficiality and forgotten histories. A particularly striking craft element is the shift in perspective and the imagery of the "snake." While the "we" maintains a collective, almost institutional voice, the bridge introduces a singular "me" that wants to "slither across them." This detail grounds the abstract promise of "uses" in a tangible, primal act of inhabiting and utilizing the ruins, suggesting a perspective that finds comfort and purpose in what others deem broken. The lyrics also twist conventional notions of beauty, implying that even imperfections will be seen as glorious. These lyrics are effective because they evoke a sense of inevitable change and a re-evaluation of value without explicit moralizing.