Deceiver

Soen's song 'Deceiver' delves into the complex and often painful journey of self-awareness and the internal battles we face. The lyrics paint a picture of a person grappling with feelings of abandonment and stagnation, as expressed in the lines 'Luck, light, have abandoned our side / Leaving us dull without will to thrive.' This sense of being forsaken by fortune and vitality sets the stage for a deeper exploration of personal failure and the struggle to find meaning and direction in life.

The recurring theme of sin and guilt is central to the song, with the protagonist acknowledging their own complicity in their suffering. The metaphor of 'the waters of sin' suggests a deliberate immersion in wrongdoing or self-deception, a way to numb the awareness of their own shortcomings. The lines 'In the waters of sin / I will drown my awareness of you' highlight this internal conflict, where the 'you' could symbolize a part of themselves they are trying to escape or a person who has influenced their path negatively.

The song also touches on the inevitability of time and its impact on our aspirations and self-perception. The chorus, 'When the heart is young and the will is strong / You expect yourself to conquer / But the winds of time will disperse the signs / That you left to find your trail,' reflects the disillusionment that comes with age and experience. This realization leads to a sense of shared doom and guilt, as the protagonist contemplates breaking free from their metaphorical armor or continuing to bear the weight of their failures. The imagery of a shadow within and a river of shame further emphasizes the internal struggle and the difficulty of overcoming one's own demons.