DON'T CHASE THE DEAD

Marilyn Manson's song 'DON'T CHASE THE DEAD' delves into themes of existential dread, the allure of the past, and the consequences of dwelling on what is gone. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a world where angels are in exile and the dead lie in a metaphorical graveyard, suggesting a sense of abandonment and loss. The imagery of an ice cream truck in an inferno juxtaposes innocence with hellish surroundings, highlighting the stark contrast between what once was and what is now.

The repeated refrain, 'Don't chase the dead, or they'll end up chasing you,' serves as a warning against becoming consumed by the past. This metaphor suggests that if one fixates on what is lost or dead, it can come back to haunt them, preventing them from moving forward. The idea of the dead chasing the living can be interpreted as the past's unresolved issues or traumas resurfacing and affecting one's present life.

The lines 'If tonight lasts forever, it won't matter if there's no tomorrow' reflect a nihilistic perspective, where the present moment is all that matters, and the future is uncertain or irrelevant. This could be seen as a coping mechanism for dealing with the pain of the past, emphasizing the importance of living in the now. Manson's mention of having 'tickets to Hell' and knowing someone else wants to be there too suggests a shared sense of doom or acceptance of a dark fate, further reinforcing the song's themes of existential despair and the inescapable nature of one's past.

Overall, 'DON'T CHASE THE DEAD' is a haunting exploration of the dangers of being trapped by memories and the importance of confronting and moving beyond them to avoid being haunted by them forever.