Released: 2000Man, “Change” by Deftones throws the listener right into an emotional wringer. This is a tale about the complex dance of metamorphosis, power dynamics, and emotional manipulation, etched onto a grimy canvas of alternative metal.
Let’s start with the opener: “I watched you change into a fly”. This ain’t Kafka’s Metamorphosis, folks, but there’s no denying a similar theme of transformation. The person addressed in this song is undergoing some kind of profound shift – but why depict it as a change into a fly? Well, you’ve got to remember, in rock and roll, the imagery isn’t always literal. Here, ‘fly’ likely symbolizes a state of being that’s irritating, insignificant or transient. It’s not exactly a compliment.
The following lines: “I looked away / You were on fire” likely indicate a reaction and consequence to this change. The speaker can’t bear to watch, but their indifference or abandonment seems to fan the flames of this transformation. Hellfire and destruction might be reflective of the chaotic conditions that often accompany change.
Now, what’s with the hook? “It’s like you never had wings / Now you feel so alive”. Buckle up, rockers. We’re diving into the deep end here. The speaker is musing over the paradox of the ‘fly’. It’s evolved, sure, but at what cost? It’s discarded its ‘wings’ – perhaps symbolic of innocence or freedom – yet appears more ‘alive’. Is it because this new form is more adaptable, more resilient? Or does the speaker see a twisted enjoyment in this change?
“I took you home / Set you on the glass / I pulled off your wings / Then I laughed”. Oh man, this reeks of power play and cruelty. The speaker’s actions of clipping the fly’s wings and laughing reveal a sadistic pleasure in control. Clipping the wings could symbolize an exertion of control, hindering the other’s escape or growth. But the tables turn. By the end of the song, the speaker cedes power: “Give you the gun / Blow me away”. This might suggest the victim of the manipulation has grown strong enough to retaliate or the manipulator has become weary of the power held over the other.
“You’ve changed / You’ve changed / You’ve changed into a fly”. It all comes back full circle. By the end, the repeated assertion “You’ve changed” confirms the transformation is complete. The fly is here to stay.
“Change” is Deftones at their lyrically haunting best, dabbling in themes of transformation, power, and manipulation. It’s a stark reminder that change, especially when it’s born from unhealthy dynamics, can be a wild and destructive ride.
