Man Or Animal

Audioslave's 'Man Or Animal' delves into the complexities of human nature, exploring the thin line between our civilized selves and our primal instincts. The song opens with a striking metaphor, 'You give me a heart attack, you look like the summertime,' suggesting an intense, almost overwhelming attraction. The reference to being called an 'artifact' hints at feeling outdated or out of place, yet the narrator dismisses this, indicating a deeper, more intrinsic value beyond material wealth or societal labels.

The lyrics 'Keep your love inside the kitchen, you can feed me anything' juxtapose domesticity with raw, unfiltered emotion. This line, along with 'Leave the feathers on the chicken, peel the leather from your skin,' suggests a desire for authenticity and vulnerability, stripping away societal norms and pretenses. The repeated refrain 'Man or animal, I don't care at all' underscores the theme of duality, emphasizing that the narrator embraces both the rational and the instinctual aspects of their being.

The song's chorus, 'Find the antidote underneath the dose,' implies that the solution to understanding oneself lies within the very things that challenge or poison us. The lines 'I will love you more than money, I will breathe you in the smoke' convey a deep, almost consuming passion that transcends materialistic values. The imagery of 'drinking you in my honey, sweet and golden down my throat' further emphasizes this intense, almost visceral connection. Ultimately, 'Man Or Animal' is a powerful exploration of the human condition, highlighting the tension between our civilized facades and our raw, untamed desires.