Night Of The Living Dead

Misfits' 'Night Of The Living Dead' is a vivid and macabre exploration of horror themes, drawing inspiration from the classic zombie genre. The song's lyrics paint a chilling picture of a world where the dead come back to life, creating an atmosphere of dread and chaos. The opening lines, 'Stumble in somnambulance so / Pre-dawn corpses come to life,' set the stage for a nightmarish scenario where the boundaries between life and death blur, and the living must confront the relentless advance of the undead.

The imagery of 'Armies of the dead survive / Armies of the hungry ones' evokes a sense of overwhelming dread, as the living are outnumbered and outmatched by the ravenous hordes. The repeated phrases 'Only ones, lonely ones / Ripped up like shredded wheat' and 'Be a sort of human picnic' highlight the vulnerability and isolation of the survivors, who are reduced to mere prey in this apocalyptic landscape. The song's dark humor and grotesque metaphors underscore the horror of the situation, while also providing a satirical commentary on the human condition.

The chorus, with its stark declaration that 'This ain't no love-in / This ain't no happening / This ain't no feeling in my arm,' serves as a grim reminder that this is not a romanticized or fantastical scenario, but a brutal and unrelenting reality. The lyrics challenge the listener to confront the true horror of the situation, stripping away any illusions of safety or escape. By referencing 'some monster magazine' and dismissing the idea of a 'fantasy,' the song critiques the desensitization to violence and horror in popular culture, urging the audience to recognize the gravity of the depicted events. Misfits' 'Night Of The Living Dead' is a powerful and unsettling reflection on the fragility of life and the ever-present specter of death.