Becoming

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of radical personal transformation, a shedding of old selves to embrace a new state of being. Each morning is framed as a rebirth, a chance to become the "center of the bliss" and leave behind the "skin is shredded in the back." This isn't a gentle evolution; it's a forceful discarding of the past, where old identities become mere "pieces of a mask." The core tension lies in the paradoxical experience of destruction leading to peace. The "Devil's exit" is not a quiet departure but a catalyst for escalating "flames." Yet, from this intense conflagration, the narrator finds "peace and in zen," actively observing the very forces that signify their past self's demise. This suggests a deliberate choice to find calm amidst chaos, or perhaps that the intensity of the change itself is what brings about a profound sense of peace. The most striking craft element is the juxtaposition of destructive imagery with serene emotional states. The repeated phrase "flames went higher and higher" signifies intense turmoil or a dramatic purging, yet it's directly followed by "finding peace and in zen." This contrast is amplified by the second verse's advice: "Silence is the best reply to a fool." It implies that the narrator has moved beyond reacting to negativity, choosing instead a stoic, self-possessed response that allows for internal peace even as external or past "flames" rage. This lyrical approach is effective because it captures the visceral feeling of overcoming significant personal struggles. The intensity of the "flames" makes the subsequent "peace and in zen" feel hard-won and deeply earned, not simply a passive state. The lyrics suggest that true transformation often involves confronting and even embracing the destructive forces of the past to emerge into a state of profound self-possession and tranquility.