Released: 2009
Skillet’s ‘Monster’ dives deep into the inner struggle of dealing with one’s darker side. The song is all about feeling like there’s a beast inside, something you can’t control, and it’s scary. The narrator’s fighting against this inner monster, trying to keep it hidden, but it’s a losing battle.
The song starts with the lines, ‘The secret side of me, I never let you see / I keep it caged, but I can’t control it.’ Here, the singer admits there’s a hidden side of him that he tries to keep locked away. However, he struggles to control it, indicating the immense pressure he’s under.
When the lyrics say, ‘So stay away from me, the beast is ugly / I feel the rage and I just can’t hold it.’ it’s clear that this hidden side is dangerous. The singer warns others to keep their distance, fearing that the monster within might hurt them. The ‘beast’ symbolizes uncontrollable emotions or behaviors.
In the chorus, the repeated line ‘I must confess that I feel like a monster’ is powerful. It’s a confession, an admission of fear and self-loathing. The narrator hates what he’s become, feeling trapped in a nightmare. This raw honesty is what makes the song resonate with so many people.
As the song progresses, we see lines like ‘It’s hiding in the dark / It’s teeth are razor sharp.’ This imagery paints a vivid picture of the monster, emphasizing its danger. The dark and sharp teeth symbolize fear and harm, and the narrator feels there’s no escape from it.
In the end, when the lyrics say, ‘I’ve gotta lose control, it’s something radical.’ it shows a shift. The singer feels that drastic measures are needed to deal with this inner monster. The repeated line, ‘I, I feel like a monster’ reinforces the constant battle and struggle he faces.
