Fun fact: live, Vessel sings “Let's load the gun” and the crowd sings “They won't be missing you” and before breakdown, everyone shouts “Let's fucking go”
@@melihkeskin7443 basically, a blood sport is a sport where playing it will risk injury or drawing blood. With the metaphors in this song (ie the violent content) is essentially where the relationship is toxic and painful. Figuratively in the song he is killing his lover, but in reality it is expressing that he is being hurt, tormented, by this relationship and therefore wishing he could make her feel like he does (which is pain and hurt). "I made loving you a blood sport" meaning "I am hurting myself by wanting you". He wants her to feel that same pain, the unrequited love
Nazareth is such an angry song. You can just feel his torment and anguish coming out in anger. Mostly through the lyrics, on the surface it sounds so light and airy
Yes, I feel like this song was when Vessel was just fed up and had had enough. The ending outro you can just feel is anger and this is one of the few songs that truly shows how pissed off he can get.
@@Kelly30stm I saw a clip on RUclips of Vessel after a concert walking off stage, point at someone and then spit, sorta like you do when you feel like someone is scum....😂....sad to say made the hormones kick up cuz it was such an alpha move 😂😂😂
@@NikkiWright-STLVR23 you’re right! Other songs that come to mind are When The Bough Breaks. Like the straw that broke the camels back, the ending breakdown is ANGRY. Also Gods, feels like he’s saying I’m already down and ruined so by all means keep kicking me
I've been waiting for this!! Fun fact II wrote this song all himself. When they perform it live vessel turns around to II with his hands up during the last minute of the song as to praise him.
AFAIK II didn’t write this purely alone but he did the vast majority of it. According to a certain registry Vessel owns 50% of the writing rights but I wouldn’t suggest looking it up if you want his identity spoiled. Splitting it evenly is a pretty common practice even if someone didn’t write a note on one specific song. But the story is true, apparently II wrote the vast majority of this song.
@kassiec1103 according to an article in revolver magazine, II wrote Nazareth. As well as several other articles on Google. Don't really care to debate it though.
Vessel sometimes puts the most devastating lyrics in the background, like Nazareth's "They wont be missing you", Distraction's "Its too late for me" and Dark Signs' "I might break and bend to my basic need to be loved and close to somebody"
I always saw it as a mirror who was broken by a punch or something and had to be taped together, and now he's pushing her against it so she can see what she led him to do due to wrath
@@NikkiWright-STLVR23 agree,i found that band with 1h Drumeo offering by II - Higher to be precise and then dug deep into them discovering how raw and emotional are one and two EP's. I actually listen them more than the other albums tbh.
@@KORNBG My daughter introduced them to me last year with the Summoning. I devoured everything they did before TMBTE. I'm not lying when I say I took a day and listened to everything in order, just lay on my bed for a few hours and just listened. By the end I swear I felt like I was coming out of a trance, it was so ...... Idk how to describe it other than almost spiritual?? But I must say, Nazareth became a favorite almost instantly. But everything they've ever done is masterful in certain ways. Vessel is extremely gifted and he could sing anything and I'd listen to it.
@@KORNBG I'm excited because I see them next week, my daughter is 20 and has never been to a concert, so we're making it a family trip cuz I gotta drive 6 hours to get to the venue. My husband and nephew are coming also, so I just got an Airbnb and we're going to just enjoy the trip and show.
Always kind of felt like a lot of One and Two are from the perspective of Sleep, which would explain the similar phrasing but change in perspective on the later albums. Makes a lot of sense when you start to dissect the complex relationship between Vessel and Sleep
This song has always kinda make me think of drug addiction. “Knocking on your bedroom door with money” “see if she can guess what a hollow point does to a naked body” I interpret a “hollow point” and a needle
That's a great interpretation. Drug addiction is a type of love, even if it's an unnatural one. Plus with STs themes of unrequited or unwanted love, drugs can both become an unwanted love as well as taking people away from their loved ones. This is like some other songs about drugs, like "Hate Me" by Blue October, or "Pet" by A Perfect Circle. They don't explicitly talk about drugs, but they reference the addictive power of drugs very blatantly
I agree just like one eye on the door other eye on a rail and the other eye following a scarlet trail… has no one questioned why three eyes are mentioned??? lol. Eye of the needle…scarlet trail being the vein. Bloodstains on the collar means just don’t ask. Shooting up in the neck. Just saying
Not saying you dont know this but A hollow point is a very aggressive round compared to your normal bullet (full metal jacket) and it tears through rather than passes through like an fmj. Like he wants it to hurt more because the pain he feels isn't just a passing pain but it tears him up
I have never clicked on something so fast! So.. Sleep is not who they are singing about. In their only interview, Vessel said Sleep is a He. They are called Sleep Token because their music is a Token to sleep, an offering if you will. So the lyrical content isn't about Sleep, but for Sleep. I take it as Vessel is telling his story to Sleep. The lyrics are definitely about a very toxic relationship. Not only was she Toxic, but so was he. And he's telling the whole story. From falling in love, realizing how bad the relationship is but not wanting it to end to finally accepting the fact that it can never be. I know alot of people follow the fan driven lore that they see, but its just that. Fan driven. And thats probably one of the best things about Sleep Token.... we dont actually know a damn thing until they finally tell us. 😂
@darcystcorner2580 oh that's just like not being a real fan because we listen to Vessel before he was Vessel. I totally get people who are all caught up in the lore and everything else, but their whole point was to enjoy the music as you want.
@@lfreeman0828 I have listened to BC and you can hear lyrics from some of those songs in the ST songs. Just like people say it’s all about the goddess sleep but vessel refers to sleep as a he so it’s about GM not sleep
You're my new bestie! I love meeting other ST fans who've enjoyed Vessel before he was Vessel. I think it's such a shame when people refuse to let themselves enjoy everything musically he has done. You can find alot of his solo work here, too and it's sooo good. Especially when you can see his personality shine through.
@@lfreeman0828 I’ve gone back to music he wrote in 2011 you can find it all on google lol. And his piano solos with no vocals are absolutely beautiful. The way he conveys feeling through just the piano told me even back then this man is a STAR Going back makes me appreciate him so much more
I think you need to put yourself in the mindset of someone going through a horrendous breakup (as we can see the journey of it through the trilogy) and he’s reached that, well, wrath stage. He wants his revenge. He wants to make her pay for hurting him. Maybe it’s Sleep whispering in his ear. Maybe it’s a dream where Sleep is showing him what it would be like to exact his revenge (lot of “we” in there). Sometimes you slip into these fantasies that wouldn’t ever happen (he isn’t gonna tape her mouth shut and hollow point her), but can help to settle that rage. Additionally, there have been hints of bdsm through their catalog. The idea of riding the line between pleasure and pain. While not overtly stated, you can find it if you dive down that rabbit hole (and others have gone way farther than I have). Maybe I’m a siiiiiick puppy, but the way his voice caresses the words… it’s kinda hot. Maybe I’m the only one. 😂 I think you guys will like it the more you listen to it.
Whenever I listen to this song, I'm reminded of the Missing Limbs lyric "Cause it still makes my blood run cold, To remember what they did before, The stories that you never told to me." I always wonder if in Nazareth he's recounting some trauma that his Love experienced in her past.
A lot of folks feel like there are metaphors for addiction in this song and what it does to you and your body. The hollow point possibly being a needle? It feels like he’s singing from the perspective of said addiction maybe. Makes sense when you see lyrics of other songs like Sugar, Like That (stuck in a tar trap), choking up chunks in TMBTE, etc
I’ve heard that theory too and it makes sense to me - load the gun is a possible reference to filling a needle - make her eat the tape - tourniquet in the mouth
That's the only thing that makes sense to me, it's the precursor to what is left in that video. The roach continues no? Make her eat the tape, they have some kind of memories recorded that he wants her to eat, and then really unalive her. So who is the other girl in the jaws video? And why is she also unaliive?
I’d also read someone’s interpretation for the lyrics was from the jaws video - the first verse is from the victims perspective, and the second verse is the perpetrator
this reaction was everything i wanted to be, i’ve been waiting for the reaction to the second verse since i found your guys’ videos and it did not disappoint - especially your reaction to the f-bomb😆😆
I can't believe I'm seeing them live on tuesday, hopefully performing this song. 💚💙💜 This song mashed me feel two different ways at once, but then again, which song of theirs doesn't? Making ugly things somehow beautiful is an art form in of itself.
I never clicked so damn fast!! I wanted to see you both go through your thoughts and feelings with this song, it did not disappoint and now you understand why people wanted you to listen to this ASAP 🙏🏻 To me this song is about a relationship Vessel was in with someone, and it’s about discovering how toxic both people are and how it’s better left apart from one another… not with Sleep
"I spit blood when I wake up, sink porcelain stained, choking on brain matter and makeup" in TMBTE is very possibly a callback to this song. Maybe "Rose gold chains, ripped lace, cut glass, blood stains on the collar, please just don't ask" from Ascenscionism as well. They go pretty dark.
There’s a podcast that dissects all of Sleep Token’s songs, and his theory for Nazareth was that this is actually Sleep talking Vessel into doing these things. Very interesting!! Edit to add the name of the podcast- Sleep Study Podcast 🥰
I've seen a lot of people talking about these lyrics. The top consensus is he may be talking about an encounter with a prostitute? Whatever he's talking about, I FUCKING love it.
I came across Sleep Token when all they had released was One and Calcutta. Without the context of the rest of their discography and what Sleep Token was really all about (how a toxic relationship affected Vessel), Two is it's own story entirely. Calcutta is a vision from Sleep in his dreams, something that is so beautiful and marvelous that it makes him feel "whole again." Nazareth is either a ritual he is performing to feel that way again or the carrying out of said vision he saw, "unaliving" a prostitute. And Jericho is what he does... AFTER that. I realize now that this probably isn't the real intent behind the songs after hearing everything else they've done, but that head canon will probably always be how I view Two. Love the videos guys, and I can't wait to see the reaction for Jericho
So I’ve heard a theory that this was Mimicking a conversation between sleep and vessel!! Kind of like how at their concerts during their intermissions they have a conversation between vessel and sleep, similar concept . So it was actually sleep saying those and the theory is that he’s had to sacrifice someone for sleep to prove his loyalty and sleep is “the wrath” promising him all of these things if he becomes its worshipper . Now this is still just a theory but it’s the one that sounds the most in line in my opinion!!
White roses meaning innocence [Vessel] and black doves meaning [Sleep]. So hes leaving the roses. The innocence and picking up the sword. He recognizes the innocence is gone and look at him now. Sleep is the shepherd, indoctrinating him. It all makes sense.
Guys I have been binging these reaction videos for the last few days and they are amazinggg, I absolutely love seeing your reactions and remembering the feeling of hearing the songs for the first time so thank you! Now just waiting for Is It Really You 😁
This is one of their best songs, and the lyrics are a little more agressive but I always interpreted that it was like talking about the early stages of a really bad breakup, when the anger and all the destructive energy consumes everything in our thoughts.. it’s ugly and it’s not right, but those moments exists when we’re mourning and I think it’s just really honest to put it out.. The first time I heard it made me feel like I was staring at a open wound
Been waiting for this and your reaction to 'that' line! This is Vessel's therapy and when the pain finally hit him upon reflection of his failed toxic relationship. Album #4 coming Q2 2025...
Nazareth is such a dope and unique song in their discography. Glad you guys were finally able to experience it! One thing that occurred to me with the lyrics and kinda connecting things together is "And I'll see you when the wrath comes. Knocking on your bedroom door with money" And in Take Me Back to Eden he says "But I'll take a pound of your flesh before you take a piece of my paystub" So those are the only two points I see where money as a concept are mentioned and they seem to link, but I'm not too sure. Also I've heard of some people linking the rap section in TMBTE to Nazareth as well, "Well, yeah, I spit blood when I wake up Sink porcelain stained, choking up brain matter and make-up" and "Let's load the gun Make her eat the tape in the bathroom mirror See if she can guess what A hollow point does to a naked body". It makes it feel like the rap section in TMBTE is the aftermath of "seeing what a hollow point does to a naked body" in my mind and putting those things together gives off a concept about TRIGGER WARNING an unsuccessful "unaliving" attempt. It seems like it doesn't make sense because in Nazareth it's from the perspective of him doing it to someone, where as in TMBTE it's more so representing a self-perspective. I could be completely wrong but just things to think about linking the two songs! Overall, I feel like there is a link between Nazareth and the rap section of TMBTE. Great reaction as always! can't wait for the next one!
I honestly think that vessel might have created sleep for the lore. A lot of his lyrics I believe are about how he feels about himself, and his shadow self, throwing maybe a toxic relationship of sorts into the mix. He may or may not have suffered half of what we think. Maybe the foundation of his song writing comes from other sources, such as Adam and Eve, how what happened to them in the garden of eden - the song, the figure in the music video, God cast them out of the paradise garden, posting an angel armed with a sword of fire there to prevent their return. The apple? Also comes up, forbidden fruit that the serpent ( i’m coild up like a venomous serpent) told Eve to eat. As I said, maybe this is the foundation for his writing? (Kind of like what James Cameron did with the Titanic movie) then he translates real life situations/ stories emotionally into it, so us the listeners can relate. Very clever. Hope that makes sense :)
OMG the day has finally arrived!! I absolutely LOVE this song, it's dark, erotic and that drop at 7:02, ii just killing it!! this band is beyond amazing!!!! 🔥💯
I’m so glad I’m not alone with the “this is weirdddd” first reaction. I had to take a few days to listen to it again because I wasn’t sure how I was supposed feel lol. Like, it feels so angry and violent. And I wasn’t ready to engage in those feelings yet. But I recognize they are valid. I honestly now feel it’s probably one of my favorite songs, but those lyrics still make me slightly uncomfy. I’m glad someone I’m following has now reacted to this so I didn’t feel so alone!!!! I don’t think my parents or friends would get this one LOL
One of my fave ST tracks and what got me into them in the first place (along with Jaws and Calcutta) Just fantastic, and the drops at the end deserve all the volume you can muster.
I literally got goosebumps watching you hearing Nazareth, I wish I got the opportunity to hear it for the first time again 🥹🥹 and can’t wait for you to do my absolute favorite song of them, Jaws
One EP: Thread the Needle ✅️ Fields of Elation ✅️ When the Bough Breaks ✅️ Two EP: Calcutta ✅️ Nazareth ✅️ Jericho Singles: Jaws ✅️ Hey Ya ✅️ The Way That You Were Is It Really You? Hallelujah (Live)
Lol... I grilled chicken while it was sleeting on one of camping trips. We were barely an hour from home but we stayed in our little pop-up camper in the cold that whole weekend. People offered us beds in their RVs, they all thought we were crazy, lol
Since we're coming up on 'Jericho' and the end of the great Sleep Token album journey, will you guys be reacting to II's Drumeo offerings? And Sleep Token's cover of 'Is It Really You' (originally by Loathe) is a must too - please!
I always took this song as him wanting to sacrifice/unalive his lover as proof of his angry and how much wrath he holds. Specifically the line "make her eat the tape in the bathroom mirror". Her mouth is duct taped, and he's going to make her watch as he hurts/unalives her. It always feels very vicious to me, sadistic even. And live, when he sings the "let's fuck her up" he goes even more gentle with it and does a high register run, whereas i want to growl or scream it. It feels very much like it's a song expressing just how angry and ready to strike he is to prove he's ready to move on. To leave.
I've been waiting for y'all to react to this song since I found your channel and saw that you were going through all of Sleep Token's discography. Your reactions to the start of the second verse were pretty much exactly what I expected 😂 Great song, but the lyrics are... certainly something.
I love the lyrical tie back to this song in TMBTE. The second verse ‘Spit blood when I wake up/ Sink porcelain stained choking up brain matter and make up’ seems to be describing the aftermath of the night in Nazareth where Vessel has killed this woman and the bathroom is splattered with the remains of the night. Such an interesting song
Looking at the mask at the end of the video reminds me of when vessel shows his face in "Fall for me" and the scars are on the same side of his face. Seems to match pretty well.
This is what I love about Sleep Token is all the different interpretations that everyone has. For me, personally, I believe that this song is Sleep speaking to Vessel and at this time Vessel has a lover and Sleep is jealous of the love that Vessel has for this other person and Sleep wants Vessel all to himself.
The roach was also in the video for Jaws! It was also one of the Ludin for the visualizer for chokehold only in battle armour. I do not know what that means but it’s there. Edit: it’s also adorable in its little battle armour.
what I hear in most of their songs is Vessel coming from or dealing with a fucked up if not outright abusive relationship, and him saying "let her eat the tape in the mirror" and "See if she can guess what A hollow point does to a naked body" sounds so much like that is what she did to him, he opened himself and made himself vulnerable and he's got a hole where his heart was because of her. he loves her but she's only hurting him and this is him telling her that one day it will come around to bite her - he'll come to show her what he has achieved ("knocking on the bedroom door with money") thanks to her fucking him up but he won't be loving her then. the problem is he does/can't seem to let this person go: the later albums expand on all that and show that he is clearly not over her and it seems to continue with him trying to gain her love (Ascencionism), getting her to get help because she probably tried to kill herself and bound him to her with guilt and twisted co-depence (a lot of Tomb sounds like that, and then there's Are you really Okay?) - and him finally accepting that their past happiness will not return (Euclid) idk just my thoughts when it comes to Sleep Token lyrics in their entirety
I have read in a few places that the filmclip for Jaws was originally intended for Nazareth, there's a video on youtube that syncs them and it's a pretty tight fit visually. Association by roach 🤔
IDK, but the more I think about it, the "raft" Vessel refers to makes me think of Charon, the ferryman from Greek mythology. Maybe its symbolic of the "death" of a relationship that has been steadily going bad for awhile. Either way, this reaction vid made my day and once again proves that yes, ST do NOT miss on any of their songs.
Holy crap. When I look up the lyrics it says "the wrath." But "the raft" makes so much sense! We all know how Vessel like to toss stuff like that in there. And we've had instances of lyrics being wrong before!! Thank you for this!!
Calcutta is a place where historically, what we now would call proto-Hinduist rebirthing rituals have been practiced. I saw someone else call it “black magic” but I disagree with that description. The song is about “proto-Vessel”(?) being reborn as Vessel through Sleep. Nazareth is where Jesus grew up according to the bible. There’s various ways to interpret the place name but the way I think fits best is that the girl being murdered is greedy and immoral (“bedroom door with money”) and the POV is of someone who thinks he’s doing the right thing. Jericho is biblical and is where David and his followers brought down the walls with trumpets (extreme paraphrase; I suggest the Weird Bible Podcast). I see the “dining on old encounters” as exactly this, Sleep somehow feeds off of these kinds of ancient events.
Fun fact: live, Vessel sings “Let's load the gun” and the crowd sings “They won't be missing you” and before breakdown, everyone shouts “Let's fucking go”
Omg would love to do/see this live!!
If they take it off the set list this fall I am going to be devastated
@@tabeaw123
Really gives “I made loving you a Bloodsport” a new meaning.
Rip to all the people who didn’t catch this hahaha
I'm slow, could you elaborate more?
@@melihkeskin7443 Parked. Waiting for elaboration.
@@melihkeskin7443 basically, a blood sport is a sport where playing it will risk injury or drawing blood.
With the metaphors in this song (ie the violent content) is essentially where the relationship is toxic and painful. Figuratively in the song he is killing his lover, but in reality it is expressing that he is being hurt, tormented, by this relationship and therefore wishing he could make her feel like he does (which is pain and hurt). "I made loving you a blood sport" meaning "I am hurting myself by wanting you". He wants her to feel that same pain, the unrequited love
@@bigschmill294 also worth mentioning "Vore"'s "Are you in pain like I am?"
Nazareth is such an angry song. You can just feel his torment and anguish coming out in anger. Mostly through the lyrics, on the surface it sounds so light and airy
That breakdown is so cathartic it's just a huge release of so many feelings I really love this song so much
Yes, I feel like this song was when Vessel was just fed up and had had enough. The ending outro you can just feel is anger and this is one of the few songs that truly shows how pissed off he can get.
@@NikkiWright-STLVR23i agree, its angry vessel!
@@Kelly30stm I saw a clip on RUclips of Vessel after a concert walking off stage, point at someone and then spit, sorta like you do when you feel like someone is scum....😂....sad to say made the hormones kick up cuz it was such an alpha move 😂😂😂
@@NikkiWright-STLVR23 you’re right! Other songs that come to mind are When The Bough Breaks. Like the straw that broke the camels back, the ending breakdown is ANGRY. Also Gods, feels like he’s saying I’m already down and ruined so by all means keep kicking me
“Nobody knows what it means, but it’s provocative. It gets the people going.”
I was waiting for this reaction.
Real
Came here to comment this 🏆
I HAVE NEVER PRESSED ON A NOTIFICATION FASTER IN MY LIFE I’VE PRAYED FOR THIS VIDEO😩😩😩😩
Right!!
Yep. Been waiting on this one. Low key one of my favorites… The seductiveness of his voice….
@@TreyfromGAagreed🤭
This literally made me lol! And watch btw...
REAL I DROPPED EVERYTHING
I've been waiting for this!! Fun fact II wrote this song all himself. When they perform it live vessel turns around to II with his hands up during the last minute of the song as to praise him.
Wait really?!? I had no idea!! Where have you learnt this?
AFAIK II didn’t write this purely alone but he did the vast majority of it. According to a certain registry Vessel owns 50% of the writing rights but I wouldn’t suggest looking it up if you want his identity spoiled. Splitting it evenly is a pretty common practice even if someone didn’t write a note on one specific song. But the story is true, apparently II wrote the vast majority of this song.
Vessel is the only one credited on BMI repository, similar to the non drum sleep token songs, he is the only writer.
@kassiec1103 according to an article in revolver magazine, II wrote Nazareth. As well as several other articles on Google. Don't really care to debate it though.
@@Twist3dJoker it's not a debate when it's not true per the actual official credits but believe what you want lol
Vessel sometimes puts the most devastating lyrics in the background, like Nazareth's "They wont be missing you", Distraction's "Its too late for me" and Dark Signs' "I might break and bend to my basic need to be loved and close to somebody"
From my understanding, “The wrath” is HIS wrath and his PISSED. “Make her eat the tape” likely means to tape her mouth shut.
Real
Like a "shut the fuck up and listen to how I feel for once" type of wrath is what I got on the initial listen
I always saw it as a mirror who was broken by a punch or something and had to be taped together, and now he's pushing her against it so she can see what she led him to do due to wrath
@@americanvikingr7726Yes, although personally I think it's more "FEEL what I feel"
"I thought we were done..ok, good"...every lover of ST for every song.
"Two" is absolutely flawless EP.
Just as much a masterpiece as TMBTE
@@NikkiWright-STLVR23 agree,i found that band with 1h Drumeo offering by II - Higher to be precise and then dug deep into them discovering how raw and emotional are one and two EP's. I actually listen them more than the other albums tbh.
@@KORNBG My daughter introduced them to me last year with the Summoning. I devoured everything they did before TMBTE. I'm not lying when I say I took a day and listened to everything in order, just lay on my bed for a few hours and just listened. By the end I swear I felt like I was coming out of a trance, it was so ...... Idk how to describe it other than almost spiritual?? But I must say, Nazareth became a favorite almost instantly. But everything they've ever done is masterful in certain ways. Vessel is extremely gifted and he could sing anything and I'd listen to it.
@@KORNBG I'm excited because I see them next week, my daughter is 20 and has never been to a concert, so we're making it a family trip cuz I gotta drive 6 hours to get to the venue. My husband and nephew are coming also, so I just got an Airbnb and we're going to just enjoy the trip and show.
@@NikkiWright-STLVR23 It will be great experience i am sure :) Njoy the show :)
If you look at Nazareth as if it's from Sleep to Vessel, it makes a lot more sense.
Straight facts
Always kind of felt like a lot of One and Two are from the perspective of Sleep, which would explain the similar phrasing but change in perspective on the later albums. Makes a lot of sense when you start to dissect the complex relationship between Vessel and Sleep
This song has always kinda make me think of drug addiction. “Knocking on your bedroom door with money” “see if she can guess what a hollow point does to a naked body” I interpret a “hollow point” and a needle
That's a great interpretation. Drug addiction is a type of love, even if it's an unnatural one.
Plus with STs themes of unrequited or unwanted love, drugs can both become an unwanted love as well as taking people away from their loved ones. This is like some other songs about drugs, like "Hate Me" by Blue October, or "Pet" by A Perfect Circle. They don't explicitly talk about drugs, but they reference the addictive power of drugs very blatantly
I always thought it was about drug addiction, too.
I agree just like one eye on the door other eye on a rail and the other eye following a scarlet trail… has no one questioned why three eyes are mentioned??? lol. Eye of the needle…scarlet trail being the vein. Bloodstains on the collar means just don’t ask. Shooting up in the neck. Just saying
Not saying you dont know this but A hollow point is a very aggressive round compared to your normal bullet (full metal jacket) and it tears through rather than passes through like an fmj. Like he wants it to hurt more because the pain he feels isn't just a passing pain but it tears him up
Thank you! I've been hearing things that could be drug references in their music since I first started listening to them about 2yrs ago
I have never clicked on something so fast!
So.. Sleep is not who they are singing about. In their only interview, Vessel said Sleep is a He. They are called Sleep Token because their music is a Token to sleep, an offering if you will. So the lyrical content isn't about Sleep, but for Sleep. I take it as Vessel is telling his story to Sleep.
The lyrics are definitely about a very toxic relationship. Not only was she Toxic, but so was he. And he's telling the whole story. From falling in love, realizing how bad the relationship is but not wanting it to end to finally accepting the fact that it can never be.
I know alot of people follow the fan driven lore that they see, but its just that. Fan driven. And thats probably one of the best things about Sleep Token.... we dont actually know a damn thing until they finally tell us. 😂
THANK YOU!!!! I’ve been saying that too and people come for me, and be even been called a fake fan
@darcystcorner2580 oh that's just like not being a real fan because we listen to Vessel before he was Vessel. I totally get people who are all caught up in the lore and everything else, but their whole point was to enjoy the music as you want.
@@lfreeman0828 I have listened to BC and you can hear lyrics from some of those songs in the ST songs.
Just like people say it’s all about the goddess sleep but vessel refers to sleep as a he so it’s about GM not sleep
You're my new bestie! I love meeting other ST fans who've enjoyed Vessel before he was Vessel. I think it's such a shame when people refuse to let themselves enjoy everything musically he has done. You can find alot of his solo work here, too and it's sooo good. Especially when you can see his personality shine through.
@@lfreeman0828 I’ve gone back to music he wrote in 2011 you can find it all on google lol. And his piano solos with no vocals are absolutely beautiful. The way he conveys feeling through just the piano told me even back then this man is a STAR
Going back makes me appreciate him so much more
WHEN I TELL YOU I RAN HERE!
I think you need to put yourself in the mindset of someone going through a horrendous breakup (as we can see the journey of it through the trilogy) and he’s reached that, well, wrath stage. He wants his revenge. He wants to make her pay for hurting him. Maybe it’s Sleep whispering in his ear. Maybe it’s a dream where Sleep is showing him what it would be like to exact his revenge (lot of “we” in there). Sometimes you slip into these fantasies that wouldn’t ever happen (he isn’t gonna tape her mouth shut and hollow point her), but can help to settle that rage.
Additionally, there have been hints of bdsm through their catalog. The idea of riding the line between pleasure and pain. While not overtly stated, you can find it if you dive down that rabbit hole (and others have gone way farther than I have). Maybe I’m a siiiiiick puppy, but the way his voice caresses the words… it’s kinda hot. Maybe I’m the only one. 😂
I think you guys will like it the more you listen to it.
You are so not the only one. The way he sings... he could be plotting my murder in a song and I would just be like "can you sing it again?" 😂
You are not the only one 🫠
It is horny music in the same vein as Deftones horny music. And well. My gf doesn’t want a safe word. So. 😅
💯😂😂😂
So true his voice is prime
Whenever I listen to this song, I'm reminded of the Missing Limbs lyric "Cause it still makes my blood run cold, To remember what they did before, The stories that you never told to me." I always wonder if in Nazareth he's recounting some trauma that his Love experienced in her past.
I just said this to my husband today. I actually screeched when I thought of that!
Ooooh ok, hmmm.. think that's what this newest album will bee!? Her stories never told?????
@@lfreeman0828 😅
A lot of folks feel like there are metaphors for addiction in this song and what it does to you and your body. The hollow point possibly being a needle? It feels like he’s singing from the perspective of said addiction maybe. Makes sense when you see lyrics of other songs like Sugar, Like That (stuck in a tar trap), choking up chunks in TMBTE, etc
Thank you because I’ve been referring to things like that through their music and people come for me
That’s how I’ve always interpreted this song
I’ve heard that theory too and it makes sense to me - load the gun is a possible reference to filling a needle - make her eat the tape - tourniquet in the mouth
Somehow I feel like it might be somehow related to “And I choke myself on sacred vapour
Waiting on some holy favour” in a way too?
Holy crap! All of these replies! Such a great theory!
I didn’t think it had much of a replay value. And then something clicked. And then it did. A really magnificent piece of music.
Agreed! It took me a few listens and then it clicked. It’s one of my absolute favorites by ST.
This is THE sleep token song I swear
If you watch the Jaws video with Nazareth playing, it makes a lot more sense. It seems that the vid may have been meant for Nazareth
This
Someone said they mentioned this in an interview somewhere
That's the only thing that makes sense to me, it's the precursor to what is left in that video. The roach continues no? Make her eat the tape, they have some kind of memories recorded that he wants her to eat, and then really unalive her. So who is the other girl in the jaws video? And why is she also unaliive?
I’d also read someone’s interpretation for the lyrics was from the jaws video - the first verse is from the victims perspective, and the second verse is the perpetrator
@@jessfeasler4590 oh that’s an interesting take! I can see that! A lot of ST songs do seem conversational
Unrelated - the scream I scrumpt when I saw Ronnie peering over Kyle’s head 😂😂😂
"The scream I scrumpt" I'm gonna steal this lmfao
7:05 just magical.
this is the BEST video to come home from a shitty work day to in my subscription feed - I CANT WAIT TO WATCHHHHHH
Been waiting YEARS for this. Couldn''t hit play and like fast enough. #Worship
this reaction was everything i wanted to be, i’ve been waiting for the reaction to the second verse since i found your guys’ videos and it did not disappoint - especially your reaction to the f-bomb😆😆
Right!?!? 😂
One of my favourites out of their whole catalogue. It's dark and angry and sexy.
I can't believe I'm seeing them live on tuesday, hopefully performing this song. 💚💙💜 This song mashed me feel two different ways at once, but then again, which song of theirs doesn't? Making ugly things somehow beautiful is an art form in of itself.
I can't wait for yall to hear Jericho. It's one of my favorites.
jericho is literally my favorite on this album it’s so beautiful
This is my all time favorite Sleep Token song. Hands down
I never clicked so damn fast!!
I wanted to see you both go through your thoughts and feelings with this song, it did not disappoint and now you understand why people wanted you to listen to this ASAP 🙏🏻
To me this song is about a relationship Vessel was in with someone, and it’s about discovering how toxic both people are and how it’s better left apart from one another… not with Sleep
Roaches and flowers from the JAWS video
"I spit blood when I wake up, sink porcelain stained, choking on brain matter and makeup" in TMBTE is very possibly a callback to this song. Maybe "Rose gold chains, ripped lace, cut glass, blood stains on the collar, please just don't ask" from Ascenscionism as well. They go pretty dark.
There’s a podcast that dissects all of Sleep Token’s songs, and his theory for Nazareth was that this is actually Sleep talking Vessel into doing these things. Very interesting!!
Edit to add the name of the podcast- Sleep Study Podcast 🥰
AHHHHH YES!!! Nazareth is such an AMAZING SONG!!! I’ve never been so excited to be early to a video like this
Finally! I could not wait for you guys to do this song! I just knew you would like it. ❤
I've seen a lot of people talking about these lyrics. The top consensus is he may be talking about an encounter with a prostitute? Whatever he's talking about, I FUCKING love it.
I came across Sleep Token when all they had released was One and Calcutta. Without the context of the rest of their discography and what Sleep Token was really all about (how a toxic relationship affected Vessel), Two is it's own story entirely. Calcutta is a vision from Sleep in his dreams, something that is so beautiful and marvelous that it makes him feel "whole again." Nazareth is either a ritual he is performing to feel that way again or the carrying out of said vision he saw, "unaliving" a prostitute. And Jericho is what he does... AFTER that. I realize now that this probably isn't the real intent behind the songs after hearing everything else they've done, but that head canon will probably always be how I view Two. Love the videos guys, and I can't wait to see the reaction for Jericho
I never heard this song until i was at the concert and that hit me so much it was crazy experience. One of my fav songs since then
So I’ve heard a theory that this was Mimicking a conversation between sleep and vessel!! Kind of like how at their concerts during their intermissions they have a conversation between vessel and sleep, similar concept . So it was actually sleep saying those and the theory is that he’s had to sacrifice someone for sleep to prove his loyalty and sleep is “the wrath” promising him all of these things if he becomes its worshipper . Now this is still just a theory but it’s the one that sounds the most in line in my opinion!!
There’s a live video of this from a few years ago that lives rent free in my head 🙃
does it happen to be the Leeds festival one from 2018?
@@SGTNebula no it’s from Glasgow 2020
White roses symbolize loyalty, purity, and innocence!
This has easily risen to one of my favorite tracks from Sleep Token, it's such a good song
IT'S THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR
I've started the journey with this song and you guys are almost ending it, but here i am reliving it with you all around! keep it up
White roses meaning innocence [Vessel] and black doves meaning [Sleep]. So hes leaving the roses. The innocence and picking up the sword. He recognizes the innocence is gone and look at him now. Sleep is the shepherd, indoctrinating him. It all makes sense.
This is the exact reaction I was hoping you guys would have! Nazareth and TMBTE are my top 2 most listened to songs.
Guys I have been binging these reaction videos for the last few days and they are amazinggg, I absolutely love seeing your reactions and remembering the feeling of hearing the songs for the first time so thank you! Now just waiting for Is It Really You 😁
This is one of their best songs, and the lyrics are a little more agressive but I always interpreted that it was like talking about the early stages of a really bad breakup, when the anger and all the destructive energy consumes everything in our thoughts.. it’s ugly and it’s not right, but those moments exists when we’re mourning and I think it’s just really honest to put it out.. The first time I heard it made me feel like I was staring at a open wound
YESSSSSS LET'S GO!!!! I gotta truley thankyou for turning me onto Sleep Token. Im eternally greatful ❤😊😊
Almost fell off my bed seeing this uplaod!!
I had the privilege of watching them live playing this song and it was amazing
That roach is in the beginning of “JAWS”. Watch that music video again. This song has a connection. Another rabbit hole! Worship!
Im always happy when i see reaction to sleep token
The only other song Vessel swears in is Gods… “my fucking form is but a wreck beneath them”. And trust that Nazareth will become your fav song
Been waiting for this and your reaction to 'that' line! This is Vessel's therapy and when the pain finally hit him upon reflection of his failed toxic relationship. Album #4 coming Q2 2025...
Nazareth is such a dope and unique song in their discography. Glad you guys were finally able to experience it! One thing that occurred to me with the lyrics and kinda connecting things together is "And I'll see you when the wrath comes. Knocking on your bedroom door with money" And in Take Me Back to Eden he says "But I'll take a pound of your flesh before you take a piece of my paystub" So those are the only two points I see where money as a concept are mentioned and they seem to link, but I'm not too sure. Also I've heard of some people linking the rap section in TMBTE to Nazareth as well, "Well, yeah, I spit blood when I wake up Sink porcelain stained, choking up brain matter and make-up" and "Let's load the gun Make her eat the tape in the bathroom mirror See if she can guess what A hollow point does to a naked body". It makes it feel like the rap section in TMBTE is the aftermath of "seeing what a hollow point does to a naked body" in my mind and putting those things together gives off a concept about TRIGGER WARNING an unsuccessful "unaliving" attempt. It seems like it doesn't make sense because in Nazareth it's from the perspective of him doing it to someone, where as in TMBTE it's more so representing a self-perspective. I could be completely wrong but just things to think about linking the two songs! Overall, I feel like there is a link between Nazareth and the rap section of TMBTE. Great reaction as always! can't wait for the next one!
Best ST song till this day imo. Lyrics, instrumental, voice technic, building up, perfect drop, it has everything!
Omg so excited! Commenting before I see the reaction. 😂
The scream I scrum when I saw you guys finally did this song!!!!
Been waiting for this since you guys started the journey! This one is my favorite
I am so in love with this song. Vessel is totally killing it here, I really like his angry side that we don't get to see so much.
I honestly think that vessel might have created sleep for the lore. A lot of his lyrics I believe are about how he feels about himself, and his shadow self, throwing maybe a toxic relationship of sorts into the mix. He may or may not have suffered half of what we think. Maybe the foundation of his song writing comes from other sources, such as Adam and Eve, how what happened to them in the garden of eden - the song, the figure in the music video, God cast them out of the paradise garden, posting an angel armed with a sword of fire there to prevent their return. The apple? Also comes up, forbidden fruit that the serpent ( i’m coild up like a venomous serpent) told Eve to eat.
As I said, maybe this is the foundation for his writing? (Kind of like what James Cameron did with the Titanic movie) then he translates real life situations/ stories emotionally into it, so us the listeners can relate. Very clever.
Hope that makes sense :)
I've been waiting for this since you started the journey!!! This one is my favorite
Finally Nazareth ❤ one of the best songs in my opinion! Worship ❤
OMG the day has finally arrived!! I absolutely LOVE this song, it's dark, erotic and that drop at 7:02, ii just killing it!! this band is beyond amazing!!!! 🔥💯
Yay, you did it!
I’m so glad I’m not alone with the “this is weirdddd” first reaction. I had to take a few days to listen to it again because I wasn’t sure how I was supposed feel lol. Like, it feels so angry and violent. And I wasn’t ready to engage in those feelings yet. But I recognize they are valid. I honestly now feel it’s probably one of my favorite songs, but those lyrics still make me slightly uncomfy. I’m glad someone I’m following has now reacted to this so I didn’t feel so alone!!!! I don’t think my parents or friends would get this one LOL
One of my fave ST tracks and what got me into them in the first place (along with Jaws and Calcutta) Just fantastic, and the drops at the end deserve all the volume you can muster.
I literally got goosebumps watching you hearing Nazareth, I wish I got the opportunity to hear it for the first time again 🥹🥹 and can’t wait for you to do my absolute favorite song of them, Jaws
They've done jaws already. Check the vids.
One EP:
Thread the Needle ✅️
Fields of Elation ✅️
When the Bough Breaks ✅️
Two EP:
Calcutta ✅️
Nazareth ✅️
Jericho
Singles:
Jaws ✅️
Hey Ya ✅️
The Way That You Were
Is It Really You?
Hallelujah (Live)
Most excited for “is it really you?” 😮💨 and TWTYW
Love seeing Ronnie behind y'all!!
Lol... I grilled chicken while it was sleeting on one of camping trips. We were barely an hour from home but we stayed in our little pop-up camper in the cold that whole weekend. People offered us beds in their RVs, they all thought we were crazy, lol
I feel like I’ve waited my whole life for this moment
I love this one. Took me a few times also. Watch it live it’s fantastic. iii is always so animated in this one.
Since we're coming up on 'Jericho' and the end of the great Sleep Token album journey, will you guys be reacting to II's Drumeo offerings? And Sleep Token's cover of 'Is It Really You' (originally by Loathe) is a must too - please!
The breakdown makes me think of the breakdown in Jaws and i love it
I always took this song as him wanting to sacrifice/unalive his lover as proof of his angry and how much wrath he holds. Specifically the line "make her eat the tape in the bathroom mirror".
Her mouth is duct taped, and he's going to make her watch as he hurts/unalives her. It always feels very vicious to me, sadistic even. And live, when he sings the "let's fuck her up" he goes even more gentle with it and does a high register run, whereas i want to growl or scream it.
It feels very much like it's a song expressing just how angry and ready to strike he is to prove he's ready to move on. To leave.
I've been waiting for y'all to react to this song since I found your channel and saw that you were going through all of Sleep Token's discography. Your reactions to the start of the second verse were pretty much exactly what I expected 😂 Great song, but the lyrics are... certainly something.
I love the lyrical tie back to this song in TMBTE. The second verse ‘Spit blood when I wake up/ Sink porcelain stained choking up brain matter and make up’
seems to be describing the aftermath of the night in Nazareth where Vessel has killed this woman and the bathroom is splattered with the remains of the night. Such an interesting song
Looking at the mask at the end of the video reminds me of when vessel shows his face in "Fall for me" and the scars are on the same side of his face. Seems to match pretty well.
3:45 the way my job just stopped bobbing his head 😂
YESSSSS!!!!!! Nazareth is one of my ultimate favorite sleepy boys songs
This is the one I’ve been waiting for 😂
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS REACTION FOR ALMOST A YEAR 😂😂
This is what I love about Sleep Token is all the different interpretations that everyone has. For me, personally, I believe that this song is Sleep speaking to Vessel and at this time Vessel has a lover and Sleep is jealous of the love that Vessel has for this other person and Sleep wants Vessel all to himself.
Jeff Buckley's album Grace would be an absolute treat if you guys are looking for more artists. One of the best voices I've ever heard.
The roach was also in the video for Jaws! It was also one of the Ludin for the visualizer for chokehold only in battle armour. I do not know what that means but it’s there.
Edit: it’s also adorable in its little battle armour.
This EP is everything!!!!
It is his inspiration that speaks to him, as I interpret it
what I hear in most of their songs is Vessel coming from or dealing with a fucked up if not outright abusive relationship, and him saying "let her eat the tape in the mirror" and "See if she can guess what A hollow point does to a naked body" sounds so much like that is what she did to him, he opened himself and made himself vulnerable and he's got a hole where his heart was because of her. he loves her but she's only hurting him and this is him telling her that one day it will come around to bite her - he'll come to show her what he has achieved ("knocking on the bedroom door with money") thanks to her fucking him up but he won't be loving her then. the problem is he does/can't seem to let this person go: the later albums expand on all that and show that he is clearly not over her and it seems to continue with him trying to gain her love (Ascencionism), getting her to get help because she probably tried to kill herself and bound him to her with guilt and twisted co-depence (a lot of Tomb sounds like that, and then there's Are you really Okay?) - and him finally accepting that their past happiness will not return (Euclid)
idk just my thoughts when it comes to Sleep Token lyrics in their entirety
Woww this was intense and still so good 😎 This band is genius!
This song is a complete enigma, unfortunately. No one TRULY knows what the song means or the intentions behind it. It's just hauntingly beautiful.
I play the hell out of this song! ❤
I have read in a few places that the filmclip for Jaws was originally intended for Nazareth, there's a video on youtube that syncs them and it's a pretty tight fit visually.
Association by roach 🤔
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤. The keyboard reminds me of Radiohead 'eiirp'
IDK, but the more I think about it, the "raft" Vessel refers to makes me think of Charon, the ferryman from Greek mythology. Maybe its symbolic of the "death" of a relationship that has been steadily going bad for awhile. Either way, this reaction vid made my day and once again proves that yes, ST do NOT miss on any of their songs.
Holy crap. When I look up the lyrics it says "the wrath." But "the raft" makes so much sense! We all know how Vessel like to toss stuff like that in there. And we've had instances of lyrics being wrong before!! Thank you for this!!
"I've been waiting f0or this one!"
Look at the names of the songs and what the names mean and the places were in history and put them together. It'll blow your mind.
Explain? 🤔
Calcutta is a place where historically, what we now would call proto-Hinduist rebirthing rituals have been practiced. I saw someone else call it “black magic” but I disagree with that description. The song is about “proto-Vessel”(?) being reborn as Vessel through Sleep.
Nazareth is where Jesus grew up according to the bible. There’s various ways to interpret the place name but the way I think fits best is that the girl being murdered is greedy and immoral (“bedroom door with money”) and the POV is of someone who thinks he’s doing the right thing.
Jericho is biblical and is where David and his followers brought down the walls with trumpets (extreme paraphrase; I suggest the Weird Bible Podcast). I see the “dining on old encounters” as exactly this, Sleep somehow feeds off of these kinds of ancient events.
🤯
While She Sleeps - To The Flowers next!
The best guys in da bizz!