In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
- This article is about the song. For other uses, see Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) and Holy Wood (novel).
"In the Shadow of the Valley of Death" | ||
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Song by Marilyn Manson | ||
Album | Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) | |
Released | November 13, 2000 | |
Recorded | 1999–2000 at the Mansion in Death Valley, California | |
Genre | Alternative metal | |
Length | 4:09 | |
Label | Nothing, Interscope | |
Writer | Marilyn Manson | |
Composer | Twiggy Ramirez, John 5 | |
Producer | Marilyn Manson, Dave Sardy |
"In the Shadow of the Valley of Death" is the seventh track on the 2000 release Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death). The song is characterized by the presence of acoustic guitars that are quite similar to many of the ballads found on Mechanical Animals.
Analysis
Babies squall in misery and the guitar strums softly and sadly. "Heaven wasn't made for me." Black this shadow, black indeed, the depths of self-doubt and dark despair, the feeling that all our brave and shiny commerce is just maggots dealing in shit. "sometimes I feel so worthless...sometimes I feel discarded...I wish that I was good enough," mourns Manson. And in the midst of the song's death litany - death is authority, death is the media, "death is our God" (the only capital-G God on the record) comes the strange pronouncement, "death is the Tarot." What does this mean? The album features interpretations of ten of the 22 trumps of the Major Arcana-offer a story of spiritual journey through magickal study culminating in submission to the divine will, self-immolation, in order to gain true wisdom. The purest sacrifice has always been the one that went consenting to death: the offering of oneself on the altar or the cross, as Odin and Jesus and Manson all know, has tremendous power.
Appearances
Albums
Versions
- In the Shadow of the Valley of Death — Appears on Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death).
Bootlegs
2/06/2001 - Bologna, Italy/Palamalaguti
2/10/2001 - Vienna, Austria/Libro Music Hall
2/19/2001 - Stockholm, Sweden/Johanneshovs Isstadion
2/21/2001 - Helsinki, Finland/Ice Hall
2/24/2001 - Moscow, Russia/Olympisky Arena
3/11/2001 - Tokyo, Japan/Tokyo International Forum
3/13/2001 - Osaka, Japan/Castle Hall
3/15/2001 - Fukuoka, Japan/Fukuoka Sun Palace
3/17/2001 - Hiroshima, Japan/Hiroshima Sun Plaza
3/19/2001 - Tokyo, Japan/Tokyo Bay NK Hall
3/20/2001 - Tokyo, Japan/Tokyo Bay NK Hall
3/22/2001 - Nagoya, Japan/Nagoya Century
Lyrics
We have no future heaven wasn't made for me we burn ourselves to hell as fast as it can be and I wish that I could be the king then I'd know that I am not alone Maggots put on shirts sell each other shit sometimes I feel so worthless sometimes I feel discarded I wish that I was good enough then I'd know that I am not alone Death is policeman Death is the priest Death is the stereo Death is a TV Death is the Tarot Death is an angel and Death is our God killing us all she put the seeds in me plant this dying tree she's a burning string and I'm just the ashes