Insulin

Crystal Castles' song 'Insulin' is a haunting exploration of themes like bodily autonomy, societal pressure, and the commodification of human life. The lyrics are cryptic and filled with disturbing imagery, which is a hallmark of the band's style. The opening lines, 'We dissolve everything / Scratch follicles so they don’t grow,' suggest a sense of erasure and control, possibly alluding to societal or self-imposed pressures to conform to certain standards of beauty or behavior. The mention of 'Expose your shame for all to see / Sell your bones as ivory' further emphasizes the idea of exploitation and the loss of personal dignity for the sake of external validation or profit.

The recurring line 'Perfume in my blood / Nails grow through the glove' introduces a surreal and almost grotesque image, blending beauty with pain. This could symbolize the internalization of societal expectations, where the pursuit of beauty or perfection leads to self-destruction. The phrase 'Bruise my embryo / Lay them down lay them down in rows' adds another layer of complexity, possibly hinting at the impact of these pressures on future generations. The imagery of embryos being bruised and laid down in rows evokes a sense of mass production and dehumanization, suggesting that these issues are systemic and pervasive.

The lines 'I sleep for you when you’re exhausted / But your first born will be accosted' introduce a generational aspect to the song's themes. It implies a cycle of suffering and exploitation that is passed down from one generation to the next. The mention of 'Fill their lungs with tar and sage / Make the stem cells act their age' further underscores the idea of corruption and manipulation at a fundamental, biological level. Overall, 'Insulin' paints a bleak picture of a world where individuals are stripped of their autonomy and reduced to mere commodities, highlighting the dark side of societal expectations and the human cost of conformity.