Gore

Deftones' song 'Gore' delves into the complex and often dark nature of belonging and identity. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of being drawn into a dream-like state where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur. The opening lines, 'Deep in this dream we are locked in / I've pulled you in / Now our bodies are wet,' suggest a sense of immersion and entrapment, as if the listener is being pulled into a surreal, almost nightmarish scenario. The imagery of 'blood on the beaches' adds a visceral, unsettling layer to this dream, hinting at violence or sacrifice as part of the initiation process into this new reality.

The recurring refrain, 'Smile, now you're all set / Surprise, you're now one of the gang,' speaks to the seductive allure of belonging to a group or community, even if it comes at a cost. The lyrics suggest that once you're in, you're expected to conform and participate in the group's activities, no matter how dark or twisted they may be. The lines 'We lay in the gore of our voices / Oh we writhe in them' further emphasize the idea of collective identity, where individual voices merge into a cacophony of shared experience, often marked by pain and struggle.

The song also explores the idea of agency and control. The repeated phrase 'Take what you want to take / Surprise, you're now running the game' implies a shift in power dynamics, where the initiated are given a sense of control and freedom, albeit within the confines of the group's rules. The closing lines, 'We'll slip right through these gates together someday / We'll slip right through these gates together forever,' suggest a promise of eternal belonging and unity, but also hint at a loss of individuality and the potential for eternal entrapment. Through its haunting lyrics and evocative imagery, 'Gore' captures the duality of belonging—its allure and its dangers.