Formed in 1994, Disturbed is an American heavy metal / Rock Band which has released 7 studio albums to date. The band comprises of lead singer David Draiman, bassist John Moyer, keyboardist/guitarist Dan Donegan and drummer Mike Wengren. 5 of their albums have topped the Billboard hot 100 charts with global sales exceeding 17 million. This adds them to the tier of most successful rock bands in modern day music.
The song Meaning of Life was released on the band’s debut album The Sickness. It is an up-tempo metal song with explicit lyrics.
What does the title mean?
Meaning of Life talks explicitly of lust and sex. Lead singer David Draiman describes his interpretation of life inspired by the life of rock stars, which is pleasure and physical gratification. The song also refers to the groupie scene, where young women flock at concerts to hang out with rock band.
The singer expresses his intense passion for lovemaking. He lets the subject of the song (a woman who is about to sleep with him) know of his “psycho” tendencies and that she is in for a ride. He also acknowledges that the woman is as freaky as he is but keeps the lyrics playful to entice and instigate her further.
Metaphorically, the song explores the carnal desires each human has. The “Meaning of Life” literally translates to procreation, which happens through the act of sex. Singer David Draiman has commented in many interviews that the band’s music aims to empower people. Meaning of Life therefore is a song to encourage listeners into letting go of their inhibitions and fully embracing their passion, even if it seems twisted and extreme.
Verse 1 – What does it mean?
Wanna get psycho
Run, you little bitch
The singer tempts the woman by asking her if she “Wanna get psycho”. This alludes to kinky acts in the bedroom which may be fun, but are out of the norm. The very beginning sets the entire tone of the song – bare, passionate and explicit.
The singer then turns to teasing the woman by saying “Run, you little bitch”. This hints at the intensity of what they are about to experience. The singer lets the woman know that their sexual encounter will be an overwhelming experience, something she may not be able to handle. It is more playful than a warning. Referring to the woman as “…bitch” is not in offensive taste. It is akin to dirty talk in the bedroom, where the aim is to turn on the partner with racy language.
I want your power glowing, juicy, flowing, red hot
Meaning of life
The singer goes on to describe lust in various euphemisms and metaphors. He wants his partner to give her all in the sexual act. “glowing” and “red hot” imply the intensity of their passion in bed. “juicy” and “flowing” describe a woman’s physical manifestation of libido. Sex is in fact a messy business.
“Meaning of life” refers to the basic instinct and primary purpose of all living organisms – procreation. The act of sex fulfils that purpose. In this case, the focus is more on the excitement of the process than the final outcome.
It’s not enough to have a little taste
I want the whole damn thing
This is no ordinary lovemaking. The singer wants his partner to give her all, like he is about to. “a little taste” could also refer to foreplay and how many chance encounters potentially end in only making out. This time, they are about to make it all the way in.
Now, can you dig it?
Need to get psycho
The singer mocks his partner after making his intentions clear. This could come from personal experience. Many groupies travel and party with the band. But this time, plain chilling together will not do. They need to “get psycho”.
I want to hear you say it
Say you want it, need it
It is typical in sexual acts to talk dirty. The singer teases his partner while pleasing her. He wants to hear his partner express her desire for him. He needs to know that she is willing and equally passionate in what they are doing.
Don’t wanna wait until we finish the show
It’s not enough; you hunger for more
His partner responds positively to his desires. In fact, she might be a little ahead of him, more desperate than he is. “…finish the show” could imply two things. First, the woman is a groupie who is too hyped up by the band’s performance. She is turned on and ready to get with the singer; her passion is unrestrained. Second, the singer and his partner are in the process of foreplay but the woman is too excited to wait for the finale. She seems impatient to skip the kissing and hugging and move on to the real act.
The band’s music or the singer’s passionate foreplay is “not enough”. She wants more. This could also imply that they have already had sex but the woman is ready for round two.
You’re one twisted little fuck
And now you wanna get psycho with me
The singer again teases her and talks dirty, calling her a “twisted little fuck”. But he is also pleased that his partner matches his level of intense passion. He entices her, saying that she “wanna get psycho with me”.
Chorus – What does it mean?
Give in, give in, decide
Give in, give in, give in, decide
Give in, give in, give in, decide
Give in, give in, give in, decide
Give in
Now the singer is getting playful with his partner. It is like a moral dilemma. He is luring her by asking her to “Give in”. But at the same time he is advising her to take caution, to “decide”. The partner is clearly ready for more, but the singer continues to tease her. Finally, the singer takes the call and makes an advance with a definitive command “Give in”.
Get psycho
I wanna get psycho
Get psycho
I wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
The singer unleashes his true intentions. He has been wanting for more too. He wants to “Get psycho” with his partner. Passionately, he expresses his powerful lusty desires.
Verse 2 – What does it mean?
Wanna get psycho
Scratch my itch
Give me your power flowing, juicy, glowing, red hot
Meaning of life
“Scratch my itch” can be interpreted as the singer’s lust for his partner. He is commanding his partner to fulfil his sexual desire. It also implies the impatience that the singer felt all along. The feeling is not unbearable, but it needs to be addressed. And his partner can ease it with her own “power” which is heightened as well.
It’s not enough to have a little piece
I want the whole damn thing
Now, can you dig it?
Need to get psycho
A few simple tricks won’t do. “a little piece” refers to various sexual acts possible in the bedroom. The singer and his partner will not be satisfied with one simple act. They must explore everything and go all the way. He again teases his partner, reminding her that she needs to unleash her own “psycho” and go with the flow.
I want to hear you scream
Tell me to take you, scare you, fuck you
After we finish the show
It’s not enough
The singer wants his partner to give in and experience intense pleasure, enough to make her “scream”. He wants to be desired by her, to satisfy her wildly. “After we finish the show” could refer to the end of their lovemaking session, when both have had their orgasms. But it does not seem enough for his partner.
You listening, whore?
You’re one twisted little fuck
And now you wanna get psycho with me
The woman seems to be in a daze after their wild session. The singer has to reassure himself that she is still conscious. He asks her “You listening whore?” But the woman is in for another round, prompting the singer to tease her more, calling her “one twisted little fuck”.
Bridge – What does it mean?
I can feel the blood flowing through my veins
Spilling on my soul
The singer is very excited, surging on adrenaline for his partner. “…blood flowing” could also hint at the singer getting an erection. The imagery here is: the excitement of sex has pumped up the singer’s veins so much that they are overflowing, spilling on the singer’s soul. The soul here can be interpreted as the singer’s sense of judgment. His passion has taken full control over him and he cannot think of anything else.
And now the hunger’s getting bigger
Come a little closer now, pretentious whore
“hunger’s getting bigger” could be another euphemism for getting an erection. The singer is psyched up and is luring his partner to come to him.
And pull my trigger
Free the violence that is building in me
“my trigger” is a metaphor for penis. The singer wants his partner to release the sexual tension, “the violence”, raging inside him. By comparing the gun to his penis, the singer wants her to make him ejaculate all the “violence” out.
I say now, end of the ride, murder-suicide
Is how I’ve been feeling lately
After an orgasm, the “end of the ride”, a sudden sense of clarity appears in the mind. “murder-suicide” here could refer to a feeling of catharsis, of the calm after a storm. The singer also hints at his sexual frustration which has now been addressed with the sexual act.
Come a little closer now, pretentious whore
I’m reeling with the feeling that I
Can’t ignore
Come a little closer now, pretentious whore
I’m reeling with the feeling that I
Can’t ignore
The singer makes a confession that he feels this way normally. He cannot subdue his feelings, so he must express it with his partner.
Come a little closer now, pretentious whore
I’m reeling with the feeling that I
Can’t ignore
And the need to get psycho
Is not a question to me
The singer lets his partner know that he is always horny, a “psycho”. Even though she might be feeling the same right now, the singer feels this way always.
Outro
Get, get, get, get, get psycho
Get, get, get, I wanna get psycho
Get, get, get, get, get psycho
Get, get, get, I wanna, wanna, wanna
Get psycho (Psycho)
Get, get, get, I wanna get psycho (Psycho)
Get, get, get, get, get psycho (Psycho)
Get, get, get, I wanna get psycho
Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Towards the end, the singer lets out his libido by blatantly declaring his horniness.
Conclusion
Meaning of Life has explicit lyrics, but they are not violent. The passionate acts and feelings described in the song are mutual and consensual. They just happen to be very intense and lustful.