The lyrics of "Skullduggery" by James tell the story of an earwig that crawls into the narrator's ear, eats away at their brain, causing them to hear strange noises and lose their memory. Eventually, the earwigs eat all the narrator's brain, leaving only a hole.

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Meaning of "Skullduggery" by James


The lyrics of "Skullduggery" can be interpreted as a metaphor for the way negative thoughts and anxieties can invade one's mind and slowly erode their sense of self. The earwig symbolizes these intrusive thoughts that start small but gradually take over, leading to a sense of disorientation and loss of control. The constant drumming sound and laughter in the narrator's head may represent the relentless nature of these thoughts, as they consume memories and distort reality. The idea of not being able to distinguish between what is real and what is imagined highlights the confusion and chaos that can result from internal struggles. The final image of the brain being eaten away and leaving a hole could signify the emptiness and loss that can come from being overwhelmed by negative emotions. Overall, the song captures the destructive power of internal battles and the impact they can have on one's sense of self.