Deep Six is a heavy metal / glam rock song by the rock band Marilyn Manson.
Before jumping on to the Deep Six lyrics meaning, here is the meaning behind the song’s title.
Title – What does it mean?
The title Deep Six refers to being buried underground in a coffin. It serves as a wake-up call to listeners to stop being vain. Overconfidence will lead to death and destruction.
With the title explained, it is time to understand Deep Six lyrics meaning.
Intro – What does it mean?
You wanna know what Zeus said to Narcissus?
“Better watch yourself”
You wanna know what Zeus said to Narcissus?
“You better watch yourself”
“You better watch yourself”
Yeah
The very opening of the song captures Deep Six lyrics meaning beautifully. The song deals with beauty and vanity. It also has sexual undertones.
Like a disclaimer against taking your beauty for granted, the song warns listeners to “Better watch” themselves. To send the message home, the song uses the example of Narcissus. He is a character from Greek Mythology who was so vain that he fell in love with his own appearance.
There are many variations to this story. In one variation, Narcissus saw his reflection in a pool and fell in love with himself. Lured by his own image, Narcissus fell into the pool and drowned. In another variation, Narcissus was saddened by the fact that he could not be with himself as his lover. This desperation drove him to take his own life.
Regardless of the story, Narcissus always met with his demise towards the end. His vanity always took the best of him.
Given the sexual nature of the song, the singer is warning his lover not to take too much pride in her beauty. She might be as pretty as the Greek character Narcissus, but the singer is Zeus. He is the chief of all the Olympian gods. So she better take his advice and humble down.
Verse 1 – What does it mean?
It’s like a stranger had a key, came inside my mind
And moved all my things around
The people you meet in life have the potential to leave a mark behind. The singer is as susceptible to these influences as you are. In these lines, the singer is talking about a specific stranger, presumably his lover. This lover had a great impact on the singer. It’s like, the lover turned the singer into a different person.
This can also hint at betrayal. The lover hurt the singer so bad that it “moved all my things around”, messing up the singer’s life. The singer is also amused by how some people get access to “a key” that can influence him so much. Is he naturally vulnerable? Or has he made peace with the damage, returning now with a vengeance comparable to Zeus’ wrath?
He didn’t know snakes can’t kneel or pray
Can’t try to break my psyche down
Any attempts to brainwash the singer are futile. Even if you have the key to the singer’s mind’s door, you cannot bend him to your will. The singer is a snake. He can neither “kneel” nor “pray”.
Kneeling is a sign of resigning and submitting to the victor’s will. But the singer is a snake who does not have legs to kneel. He will not be easily defeated. It is not easy to break the singer’s spirit (“psyche”) down.
Taken in sexual terms, the singer is letting his beautiful lover know that he is not easy to fool. He might appreciate her beauty but he will not let it manipulate him. He will not pray. Physical loveliness is not enough to make him give his lover his devotion. It takes more than corporeal desires to break his “psyche down”.
Pre-Chorus – What does it mean?
It’s as if my feathers were wax
And your artillery lead
Do you like our bed?
Do you like our bed?
The song uses the imagery of Icarus’ wings. In Greek Mythology, Icarus’s father Daedalus constructed wings out of bird feather’s and wax. Both father and son took to the skies while wearing their new invention. Daedalus had told Icarus to fly low. Close proximity with the sun could melt the wax leading to a crash. But Icarus was lost in the adrenaline rush. Despite his father’s warnings, Icarus tried to soar to the limit. Eventually, the sun rays melted the wax in his wings, dismantling his device. As a result, Icarus fell down and died.
In sexual terms, the singer acknowledges his vulnerability at the moment. He is turned on and passionate like Icarus. But his lover is in control of the situation. She holds the gun with the “artillery lead”. Like the sun who melted the wax in Icarus’ mythology, the lover could simply shoot the singer down as he tries to soar.
The singer has put all his cards on the table. He is letting his lover know that this is what it takes to make love to him. Is she okay with the arrangement? (Does she “like our bed?)
These lines could also be a warning to the person who betrayed the singer. Even though the singer is vulnerable now, he is not afraid to get down and dirty. He is ready to play and win the game.
Chorus – What does it mean?
Deep six (Six), six, six feet deep
Deep six (Six), six, six feet deep
Yeah
To be “Six feet deep” means to be dead and buried six feet underground. The singer lets his betrayer know that any conflict with him will lead to the betrayer’s doom.
The use of the number six three times in each line serves as a satanic incantation. The three sixes symbolize the Beast of Revolution mentioned in the Bible. Challenging the singer is like challenging the devil. You will most certainly lose.
Sexually, the singer is letting his lover know that he is the devil. This means he is kinky and that she is in for a thrilling experience.
Verse 2 – What does it mean?
You wanna know what Zeus said to Narcissus?
“You better watch yourself”
You wanna know what Zeus said to Narcissus?
“You better watch yourself”
“You better watch yourself, better watch yourself”
(Watch yourself, watch yourself, watch yourself)
The singer is now teasing his lover during the lovemaking act. While he is indulging and pleasuring her, he is telling her to stay humble. The excessive use of the expression “watch yourself” could mean that this sexual act is being recorded on camera. The lover should be careful of how she behaves because she is being taped. Perhaps the singer and his lover are making a sex tape. Marilyn Manson is known to use explicit and kinky sexual imagery mixed with dark and satanic messages.
Bridge – What does it mean?
Love is evil
Con is confidence
Eros is sore
Sin is sincere
Love is evil
Con is confidence
Eros is sore
Sin is sincere
Love is evil
Con is confidence
Eros is sore
Sin is sincere
Love is evil
Con is confidence
Eros is sore
Sin is sincere
Sin is sincere
Sin is sincere
Sin is sincere
These lines serve as a code, like an ancient satanic secret doctrine. The opposite of “Love” is “Evol” which is a close homophone of “Evil”. “Con”, which means deceit, makes the first three letters of “Confidence”. “Sore” is the opposite of “Eros”, the god of love. And, “Sin” makes the first three letters of “Sincere”.
The song tells the listeners to find a balance in both virtues and vices. Every light has a shadow to it. Self-awareness is more important than rejecting evil altogether.
Hope you have now understood Deep Six lyrics meaning.
In Conclusion
The song Deep Six talks about staying humble. Encouraging listeners to not be overconfident is the true Deep Six lyrics meaning.
