Possession

Song Meaning

The lyrics immediately plunge into a visceral internal conflict. A "devil in me" battles a "God in me," each vying for control. The speaker desperately repeats, "I've got to get a hold of myself," signaling an urgent struggle for self-possession. This isn't a gentle internal debate; it's a "war being waged / That'll never be won." The language suggests an endless, unwinnable battle for the self. The core tension lies in this perpetual push-and-pull, where the speaker is caught between opposing forces, unable to achieve lasting peace or definitive victory. The most striking element is the stark personification of internal forces as "devil" and "God." The devil "trying to show his face" implies a lurking, seductive urge, while God "wants to put me in my place" suggests a restrictive, judgmental force. This binary creates a powerful, almost mythological framework for a deeply personal psychological struggle, making the internal battle feel epic. The lyrics become particularly potent when the internal struggle spills outward. The abrupt question, "What do you want from me?" shifts the focus, implying an external pressure or relationship that exacerbates the speaker's vulnerability. The line "the deeper you cut / The less there's left of me" powerfully conveys how external demands or criticisms can erode one's sense of self, making the fight for "possession" even more precarious and essential.