This Mystic Decade

Hot Snakes' song 'This Mystic Decade' delves into the themes of closure, self-realization, and the passage of time. The lyrics reflect a sense of finality and the end of a significant period, likely a decade-long relationship or phase in the narrator's life. The opening lines, 'Ten years to the minute / No longer in it / It's finished now / Finished with you,' set the tone for the song, emphasizing the completion of a chapter and the narrator's resolve to move on without exceptions or extensions.

The song also explores the idea of self-mastery and personal growth. The lines 'And I know my heart is set in plaster / And I know in my heart / I am my own master' suggest that the narrator has undergone a period of emotional healing and has emerged stronger and more self-assured. The use of 'plaster' metaphorically indicates that the heart has been mended and is now resilient, while the assertion of being one's own master highlights a newfound independence and control over one's destiny.

The imagery in the latter part of the song, such as 'I dug a pit / I put you in it / The pit of my chest / The pit of my eye,' conveys a sense of burying the past and the emotional weight associated with it. The act of turning the clock back and driving a comeback in a hearse symbolizes a reversal of time and a metaphorical death of the past, allowing the narrator to move forward. The song's title, 'This Mystic Decade,' encapsulates the enigmatic and transformative nature of this ten-year period, ultimately leading to a sense of closure and renewal.