"Wife Beater" by The Plot In You (Lyrics and analysis)

LYRICS:

this house was trashed, fists were red with the blood of his children
her water breaks, damned a new life into theirs
these months have blown away, your impulse shakes these walls to shame
their hands reach out to you and leave the same
she's lost respect for you, you died the day your son was born
there's nothing left for you, there's nothing left for you to do
you're just a nightmare, you're just a ghost,
you'll wish you never had this life before
Now your sons have turned away, the oldest takes your place
one day he'll have the strength to take you on
Father - "I don't know what you expect from me anymore,
I have made mistakes but that's not me anymore"
His fists get tighter, your days grow shorter
Son - "You raise your hand again, you just might lose it.
I am not playing around father.
You better pray before you touch her, I will tear you apart."
the nights it's darkest, the children hidden in their rooms
this is your chance, to make her scream again
he smells the plot in you, he knows you've waited to long
the time has come for you to get what you want

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 Analysis


   I've chosen to analyze the lyrics of "Wife Beater" by The Plot In You for one main reason, which is : controversy. The title himself compels people to be a bit suspicious about what the song will be about.
As a matter of fact, this analyze of the song will be about trying to answer one big question: Is this song against domestic violence or does it make an apology of it ? And whatever will  be the possible answers to this we'll try to explain them furthermore.Basically, the song talks about a man who beats his wife, and the song kind of explains what could make a man want to hit his wife. But on the other hand, it also shows how the beating father is starting to be cast aside by his son who finally defends his mother.
This song is mainly based on the relation between the father and the wife through their children, way more than between the man and his wife themselves.

   The character of the father is the main one in this song, of course. First of all, the aspect of hate towards the mother is quite important, even if I said that the relationship with the son is more important. The father seems to hate the mother for various reasons. It seams like the father thinks it is the mother's fault if the children she gives birth to are born in a bad family and will have a bad life (ex:" her water breaks, damned a new life into theirs" which basically means that the mother is giving birth to a child that will have to live the poor life they have)  We also see that the father is sort of disgusted by the mother herself (The previous quote kind of shows that the man talks about his wife as if she was some animal of some kind "her water breaks")
   Another important point about the character of the man is that he is truly jealous of his children.("you died the day your son was born") This quote really make us feel how the man is reacting about his family life, he really considers that his children have stolen his place in the mother's heart. This feeling of jealousy creates a bit of sympathy for the character, which looks really in pain to feel like he has been replaced by his children, even if it does not make for any excuses.
   Finally we also see that the father, even though he is violent and despicable because of the hatred he is devoured by, kind of realizes he was wrong and tries to change his way, at least in appearance. ( "
Father - "I don't know what you expect from me anymore,
I have made mistakes but that's not me anymore"") We see that the father, when he talks to his son tries to look like he has realized he has made mistakes, and maybe want to look like he is ready for a new life.

   Opposed to the character of the violent father is the character of the son, which is said to have "replaced his father".  (as said "Now your sons have turned away, the oldest takes your place") The father considers that the son is taking his place, so he blames the son for taking his place, but also the mother for replacing him, leaving him apart.
   This replacement takes effect in the only part where another character except the father is active, where the son talks( : "You raise your hand again, you just might lose it.
I am not playing around father.
You better pray before you touch her, I will tear you apart." ) This part really shows that the son is conscious of his role, as a protector, and as the man who the household, and in fact, as a father.
   We also see that the son develops a strong will  and a stronger anger towards his father, as he doesn't believe his father who tries to make excuses.

So having those two characters opposed from each side of the beaten wife make us think about that song like the display of the fall of a man who thinks that the persons who are the closest to him in his life have stolen everything from him. He thinks his wife stole his youth and he thinks his children are stealing the love of his wife, love that he already lost when he became violent; This song is about the vicious circle that makes a man hate those he is supposed to love and protect. This song does not say if the man is right or wrong, it just kind of shows : "how it happened".

Feel free to leave your comments about the song / clip / lyrics and analyze !!