Becoming Numb

Ludovico Technique's song 'Becoming Numb' delves into the harrowing experience of emotional desensitization. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person grappling with fear and the overwhelming weight of memories that they cannot escape. The opening lines, 'Fear / Calling its name / Into the walls / Guiding my way,' suggest an omnipresent anxiety that directs the individual's actions and thoughts. This fear is not just a fleeting emotion but a guiding force, leading the person deeper into a state of numbness.

As the song progresses, the theme of hiding and suppression becomes more apparent. The lines 'Hiding a fraction / Of the reaction / Lay it to waste' indicate a deliberate effort to conceal true feelings, resulting in a gradual erosion of emotional response. The repetition of 'Becoming numb' underscores the inevitability and permanence of this emotional state. The memories that the person cannot hide continue to haunt them, contributing to their numbness.

The lyrics also touch on the passage of time and its impact on emotional well-being. 'Years / Come to claim / All that I can feel / Slipping away' speaks to the slow but relentless process of losing one's ability to feel deeply. The contrast between 'care' and 'passion' turning into a 'chasm' and 'decay' highlights the transformation from a once vibrant emotional life to one marked by emptiness and deterioration. Ludovico Technique uses these powerful metaphors to convey the profound sense of loss and the struggle to maintain emotional integrity in the face of overwhelming internal and external pressures.