Gehenna

Slipknot's 'Gehenna' delves into the depths of self-identity and the struggle with one's inner demons. The lyrics, dark and introspective, reflect a sense of self-punishment and a desire to escape from oneself. The opening lines, 'Do you believe? Do you fade like a dream?' set the tone for a song that questions reality and existence. The imagery of watching someone sleep and the reference to a sparrow's eyes suggest a voyeuristic observation of innocence or purity, which is then corrupted by 'promises shift[ing] into judgments.'

The chorus, 'Free my severed heart, give me you / I want it (I don't want to be myself),' reveals a longing to be liberated from one's own identity, to be given a new sense of self from another. This desire to sever ties with one's own heart indicates a deep dissatisfaction and discomfort with who they are. The song's title, 'Gehenna,' refers to a valley in Jerusalem that was historically associated with the ritual sacrifice of children and later came to represent Hell in Christian and Jewish texts. This allusion to a place of suffering and sacrifice further emphasizes the themes of pain and self-inflicted torment.

Slipknot is known for their aggressive musical style and often disturbing lyrical content, which resonates with themes of pain, anger, and disaffection. 'Gehenna' fits within this framework, as it explores the desire to abandon one's own identity in favor of something new, even if that something is undefined and possibly non-existent. The song captures the essence of existential despair and the human condition's darker aspects, wrapped in the band's signature heavy metal sound.