Show Notes: Death Knell

Welcome to the show notes! This is the section where I take the writing/research I’ve done for the episodes and post them for you to see!

Say, can you see the cross?
Inverted solemnly

Inverted cross (also known as the Petrine Cross) is what many consider to be a sign of Satanic ideals, however, its actual meaning is a symbol of catholisicim, specifically that of St Peter, and more fittingly for our comparison, the papcy (aka, the pope).

St Peter was set to be crucified in Rome, however he requested to be crucified upside down as he did not feel he deserved the same fate as Christ. Because the Pope, head of the catholic church, is viewed as a successor to St Peter with him being the first pope, this symbol has been adopted for their usage.

I think this line drawns an insane amount of detail with the very first picture we have. Yes, in this instance the Petrine Cross is being used as a Satanic symbol, however, it also works perfectly with the fact that our Papa is the first pope of his Church, thus drawing an indirect comparison between the Church and the Clergy.

“seriously and without any humour” is the definition of solemnly. I think what Papa is trying to convey here is that he knows what he and his followers are about to do is wrong even for them, however it is something that has to be done to fufill their goals.

A symbol for the goat
Of a thousand young

For some reason, Papa seems to be referring to a lovecraftian diety here known as Shub-Niggurath. She is an Outer God (or Outer Goddess) in the pantheon (direct descendant of Azathoth, ruler of the Outer Gods). Why Papa is refering to Shub is unclear however, it is most likely because she is described as a “perverse fertility deity” which fits rather perfectly with the act that is about to take place.

(Side note: Do you know why the devil is referred to as a Goat? It is not because of Baphomet. It actually stems from a parable when Jesus seperates the sheep and goats, with the sheep representing the “saved” and the goats the “damned”)

Six, six, six

Number of the beast? Think about this one.

Evoke the king of hell
Strike the death knell
Death knell, death knell, death knell

Evoking the king of hell, calling forth Satan using the bells.

A death knell is actually the second of a set of three bell tolls related to the death of someone/something. The first is a “passing” bell, indicating that someone/something is about to die. Then, the death knell which was typically rung upon the death of that individual, then the third which we know today as a funeral toll, typically rung at the burial/cremation.

I don’t think Papa is refering to a singular person in this matter, but more likely meaning that with the ringing of this Death Knell, this is humanities/gods end.

Meriam Webser also defines Death Knell as “an action or event presaging death or destruction” which would certainly describe this situation. It could be that this is actually the first bell of the trio, stating that humanity/god is ABOUT to end, with the actual Death Knell to come later.

Say, can you hear the chimes?
Tolls now for the end

Bells call out our doom

This leads in from my point just a moment ago. This could be perhaps the second bell, the actual Death Knell, that Papa is referring to. I think we can probably assume all of these are metaphorical unless Papa’s got really good timing.

As victor reaches womb

Obviously a reference to the sperm cell that managed to reach the egg, however Victor as in the name Victor also means “conqueror”. Double entendre that this is conceiving the anti-christ, the first step to the conquering of mankind.

Sex, sex, sex
Receive the beast of evil
Of evil

This verse is as close as we will come to get to Ghost describing sexual assault in their albums.

The beast of evil is actually describing an alternate name that evangelical and theologians for the anti-christ who blieve that “the beast” and the anti-christ are one in the same, and not two different beings.

Can you say his name?
Carrier of the light

To me this at least somewhat confirms that a nun of God has been forced into the conception of the anti-christ. What else could carrier of the light mean?

Papa has not referred to either the anti-christ or Satan as anything to do with “light”, so it cannot be that. It also sounds like Papa is insulting this person, mocking their faith in God.

Legions of this seed
A child you a spouse will feed

Legions of Satan. It may be reaching slightly, but there is actually a painting titled “Satan summoning his legions” which depicts a distinctly human looking Satan summoning his army. It’s been speculated that the meaning of the painting is “heroic defiance of the Almighty could be taken as a model of resistance to a distant and arbitrary power” which is exactly Papas MO.

A spouse can mean “mate” or “consort”, not wife or husband.

S-A-T-A-N
Under spell
Of death knell
Death knell, death knell, death knell

You could take this literal spelling out of Satans name purely as a chant, but it could also very well be related to the ritual (or spell) that conceives the anti-christ.