Woodland Hunter (Part I)

The Appleseed Cast's 'Woodland Hunter (Part I)' is a haunting exploration of the duality of nature and human emotion. The song opens with vivid imagery of a 'cold hunter's knife' washed in 'silver rain,' setting a tone of stark, almost brutal natural beauty. The knife, a symbol of both survival and violence, is 'pierced by those claws that cling to the throats and hands of death,' suggesting a struggle for life that is both physical and existential. This imagery evokes a sense of primal conflict, where life and death are inextricably linked, and survival is a constant battle.

The lyrics then shift to address a 'bold brazen child,' a figure who embodies innocence and audacity. This child, 'made from rain and light blowing in from space,' represents a pure, almost otherworldly essence. However, this purity is corrupted by the need to 'kill, and fight, and hide your claim,' indicating a loss of innocence and the harsh realities of existence. The juxtaposition of rain and light with the acts of violence and survival underscores the complex interplay between purity and corruption, innocence and experience.

In the final verses, the song delves into the emotional landscape of a 'cold haunted heart' dreaming of a 'warm embrace.' This heart, filled with 'hate, rage, and bile,' seeks to turn another cold, reflecting the destructive power of negative emotions. Yet, the narrator offers a choice: 'If you want warmth then I am summer, but choose the one you're wanting more.' This line encapsulates the duality of human nature, where one can embody both warmth and coldness, love and hate. The choice between summer and winter symbolizes the internal struggle between embracing warmth and succumbing to coldness, a decision that ultimately shapes one's emotional reality.