Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: groove
Song Meaning of “Blood On My Hands” by Six Feet Under
“Blood On My Hands” by Six Feet Under is a powerful and emotive exploration of guilt, self-loathing, and the consequences of one’s choice. Its narrator paints a bleak image of a life lived in sorrow and regret—of haunting memories that will never be forgotten, and the all-consuming guilt that comes with making wrong decisions.
The song begins with a metaphor to illustrate the immense weight of guilt and regret. The blood that coats the narrator’s hands is a representation of their own culpability, of the pain and suffering they have inflicted onto themselves. The burden is such that it constitutes a ‘death sentence’, with the promise of a life of never-ending sadness and remorse.
The chorus is a desperate cry of sorrow, a realization of the narrator’s own foolishness. Referencing the cliché of “daylight quickly turning to night”, they describe the darkness that their life has become, and express their anguish at being unable to escape from it.
The second verse again uses metaphorical imagery to convey the emotions of the narrator. They liken themselves to a broken vessel, full of fears and doubts that have been pouring out for an eternity. Such a vivid description serves as a reminder of the lasting nature of guilt, and the futility of any attempts to alleviate it.
The song ultimately serves as a poignant exploration of the effects of guilt that can weigh so heavily on an individual. It speaks to the depths of the narrator’s anguish and serves as a reminder of the consequences of one’s actions, no matter how far away they may be in time.