Meaning of "Molochwalker" by The Mars Volta

The lyrics of "Molochwalker" by The Mars Volta delve into themes of guilt, inner turmoil, and emptiness. The imagery of walking the plank and encountering Moloch during a mutiny suggests a sense of impending doom and reckoning for one's actions. The lines "Half of the time I'm never clean" and "Filth of my filth, can't get no relief" convey a feeling of perpetual guilt and the inability to find redemption or release from that guilt. The repeated questioning of "When you walk the plank, tell me what you see, Moloch in the time of mutiny" reflects a search for meaning or clarity in the midst of chaos and self-doubt. The references to coins taken and given, and the satchel of numbers, hint at a sense of transaction or exchange that ultimately does not bring fulfillment. Overall, the lyrics explore the weight of guilt, the search for meaning, and the emptiness that can accompany a life lived in turmoil and regret.