A Haunting Introduction
Ethel Cain’s latest release, Perverts, is a deeply unsettling yet fascinating journey that opens with the album’s title track. The 12-minute opener, “Perverts,” begins with Cain’s hauntingly soft voice singing a lo-fi rendition of the Christian hymn “Nearer, My God, to Thee” amidst glitching radio effects. This reverence to religious themes is soon disrupted by the track’s transition into a soundscape of ambient noise, which contrasts sharply with the eventual repetition of the word “Masturbator.” The track sets a provocative tone for the album, exploring the tension between religious devotion and self-gratification, introducing the album’s complex themes of sin, sexuality, and spiritual struggle.
Exploring the Meaning of "Pervert"
What makes Perverts particularly interesting is Cain’s deliberate use of the term "pervert" in both a literal and symbolic sense. Rather than focusing solely on sexual deviance, Cain delves into the less conventional meaning of the word: a distortion or corruption of the natural order. Through the track, Cain appears to be wrestling with feelings of guilt and alienation, contrasting her religious upbringing with her struggle to find sexual liberation. The juxtaposition of these themes creates an intriguing narrative of self-conflict and societal rejection, as the song’s ambient, trance-like structure draws the listener into Cain’s introspective journey.
The Bruce Mansfield Power Plant Inspiration
The song’s most notable moment comes in the form of Cain’s post about the inspiration behind the track, particularly her experience with the defunct Bruce Mansfield power plant in Pennsylvania. Her Tumblr post reveals the personal and surreal connection she developed with the industrial structure, equating the plant’s might and grandeur with feelings of religiosity and sexual liberation. The power plant, with its cold, brutalist architecture, became a symbol of her psychosexual attraction, and this fascination found its way into the song, serving as a metaphor for distorted desires and the search for meaning in places outside the norm.
Sonic Atmosphere and Production
Musically, “Perverts” blends elements of drone, lo-fi, and ambient noise, creating a haunting and otherworldly sound that complements the album’s unsettling themes. The production choices here are deliberate, with moments of silence and distortion emphasizing the alienation and loneliness at the heart of the track. Cain’s voice, ghostly and distant, enhances the feeling of spiritual desolation, echoing the refrain “Heaven has forsaken the masturbator” as if calling out into a void where absolution seems unreachable.
A Bold Statement on Sexuality and Identity
Overall, Ethel Cain’s Perverts is an intense and immersive experience that challenges societal norms, particularly around sexuality and self-identity. The title track, with its unsettling combination of religious imagery, psychosexual themes, and industrial inspiration, encapsulates the album’s core conflict: the struggle between divine aspiration and earthly desires. Cain’s willingness to delve into these darker, more uncomfortable places makes the song a bold statement, one that is sure to resonate with listeners who find beauty in the unconventional and the disturbing.
Listen to Ethel Cain Perverts
Ethel Cain Perverts Lyrics Meaning Explained
The meaning of Perverts by Ethel Cain is a complex exploration of guilt, shame, and the tension between spiritual ideals and human desires. Through the use of religious imagery and provocative language, the song delves into the internal conflict between moral expectations, particularly those imposed by Christian doctrine, and the realities of personal indulgence and sin. By juxtaposing a traditional hymn with raw, unsettling lyrics, Cain creates a stark contrast that highlights the hypocrisy and alienation felt by individuals grappling with their own flaws. Perverts ultimately reflects on the universal struggle of reconciling self-gratification with the pursuit of spiritual purity.
Intro: “Nearer, my God, to Thee”
“Nearer, my God, to Thee
Oh, nearer to Thee
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me
Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee”
In the opening lines of Perverts, Ethel Cain sings a lo-fi rendition of the Christian hymn "Nearer, my God, to Thee." This hymn, written in the 19th century, is traditionally about longing for spiritual closeness to God. The reference to the "cross" implies suffering, as in the crucifixion of Jesus, yet there is also an acceptance of that suffering in the pursuit of spiritual transcendence. Ethel Cain’s use of this hymn introduces a juxtaposition, as the religious purity and aspiration it evokes are quickly contrasted with themes of shame and sin in the following verses. This sets the tone for the EP’s exploration of spiritual and moral conflict.
Refrain: “Heaven has forsaken the masturbator”
“Heaven has forsaken the masturbator
Heaven has forsaken the masturbator
Masturbator
Masturbator”
The repetition of "masturbator" in this refrain suggests a deep sense of shame and alienation. In Christian teachings, masturbation is often seen as a sin, a misuse of sexuality outside of sacred or procreative contexts. Cain’s lyrics frame the act as something that leads to spiritual abandonment. The phrase "Heaven has forsaken" conveys the idea that the masturbator is cut off from divine grace, left to grapple with their desires in isolation. The repetition emphasizes the isolation, underscoring the guilt and self-hatred that often accompanies such perceived moral failings.
Verse: “No one you know is a good person”
“No one you know is a good person”
This line injects a sense of cynicism into the song’s narrative, suggesting that everyone is inherently flawed or sinful. It implies that regardless of outward appearances or actions, everyone harbors imperfections or engages in morally questionable behavior. In the context of the song, this line may serve to highlight the hypocrisy of judgmental attitudes toward sin, particularly sexual sin. It also aligns with the album’s broader exploration of how society masks its flaws while condemning others.
Metaphor: “Fast, reckless driving often leads to slow, sad music”
“Fast, reckless driving often leads to slow, sad music”
This metaphor likens reckless behavior—such as dangerous driving—to emotional consequences that follow. The "slow, sad music" symbolizes the emotional aftermath, such as guilt, regret, or sorrow, that often accompanies impulsive actions. In the context of the song, it could also point to the way reckless indulgence in desires (like masturbation or other self-destructive acts) can lead to emotional or spiritual emptiness. The line hints at the inevitable emotional crash that follows hedonistic or impulsive behavior, a recurring theme in the EP.
Outro: “It’s happening to everybody”
“It’s happening to everybody”
This lyric broadens the scope of the song’s themes, suggesting that the struggles with desire, guilt, and alienation are universal. Ethel Cain expresses that these internal conflicts—between self-gratification and moral or spiritual ideals—are not isolated experiences but ones shared by everyone. The line encapsulates the EP’s message, which is that everyone is grappling with their own forms of shame or sin, even if they aren’t openly acknowledging it. This resignation creates a sense of inevitability, suggesting that these struggles are part of the human condition.
Themes of Guilt, Shame, and Spiritual Conflict
Ethel Cain navigates the tension between spiritual purity and human desires, particularly around sexual guilt. The opening hymn juxtaposes religious aspiration with the shame of self-gratification, creating an ironic contrast that defines the song. Through metaphors and cynical reflections, Cain explores how societal expectations and religious ideals often conflict with individual impulses, leaving people feeling forsaken, ashamed, and isolated. The repeated themes of alienation and moral cynicism underscore the emotional complexity of navigating these inner conflicts, presenting them as universal struggles.
Ethel Cain Perverts Lyrics
[Intro]
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Oh, nearer to Thee
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me
Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee
[Refrain]
Heaven has forsaken the masturbator
Heaven has forsaken the masturbator
Masturbator
Masturbator
No one you know is a good person
Fast, reckless driving often leads to slow, sad music
[Refrain]
Heaven
Heaven
Heaven
Heaven has forsaken the masturbator
Heaven has forsaken the masturbator
[Outro]
It's happening to everybody