Meaning of "Change (In the House of Flies)" by Deftones

"Change (In the House of Flies)" by Deftones explores themes of transformation, detachment, and power dynamics. The narrator's observation of someone turning into a fly can be seen as a metaphor for a person undergoing profound changes in their life or personality. The repeated mention of the absence of wings suggests a loss of freedom and the inability to escape or overcome certain circumstances. The line "I took you home, set you on the glass, I pulled off your wings, then I laughed" portrays a sense of dominance or control over the transformed individual, highlighting a sadistic enjoyment from the narrator's perspective.

The mention of looking at a cross and being given a gun introduces elements of guilt, violence, and potentially religious symbolism. The cross can symbolize redemption or salvation, suggesting the narrator's desire for a way out or absolution from their own actions. The line "Gave you the gun, blow me away" can be interpreted as a plea for the transformed person to end the narrator's own suffering or guilt. It implies a distorted power dynamic, where the transformed individual possesses the ability to inflict harm or have control over the narrator's life.

Overall, the lyrics of "Change (In the House of Flies)" convey a sense of detachment, power struggle, and a longing for transformation or release. The transformation into a fly represents a metaphorical change that has stripped away the individual's freedom, while the narrator's actions and emotions reflect a complex and conflicted relationship with power and control.