The Venomous Desception of Adulthood

3 Days Grace

"Animal I Have Become"

I can't escape this hell

So many times i've tried

But i'm still caged inside

Somebody get me through this nightmare

I can't control myself

So what if you can see the darkest side of me?

No one will ever change this animal I have become

Help me believe it's not the real me

Somebody help me tame this animal

(This animal, this animal)

I can't escape myself

(I can't escape myself)

So many times i've lied

(So many times i've lied)

But there's still rage inside

Somebody get me through this nightmare

I can't control myself

So what if you can see the darkest side of me?

No one will ever change this animal I have become

Help me believe it's not the real me

Somebody help me tame this animal I have become

Help me believe it's not the real me

Somebody help me tame this animal

Somebody help me through this nightmare

I can't control myself

Somebody wake me from this nightmare

I can't escape this hell

(This animal, this animal, this animal, this animal, this animal, this animal, this animal)

So what if you can see the darkest side of me?

No one will ever change this animal I have become

Help me believe it's not the real me

Somebody help me tame this animal I have become

Help me believe it's not the real me

Somebody help me tame this animal

(This animal I have become)

Within "The Ocean At The End of The Lane" many adults are depicted as having a darker side hidden within them. This appearance vs reality is especially seen within the character of Ursula Monkton, who is in fact a monster from another world that poses as a sweet young lady that is taking care of the little boy and his sister. The boy goes on to say "but I wondered what would happen if Ursula Monkton pulled off her face, what would be underneath that?"(63) As it is depicted in the song "Animal I have Become" many people develop a darker side, especially as they grow up and transfer from child to adult. It is depicted within the book how children act as who they truly are, but as they grow up, adults put up a fake personality in order to hide the evil that resides within. This is seen as the boy's father is seduced by Ursula Monkton, and the boy thinks "He didn't know what she was. She was a monster, and he just thought she was a normal person, and he was being nice to her." (66) The book goes on to state a linking comparison between adults and monsters as the little boy states "Grown-ups and monsters aren't scared of things" (112). It is also shown in the picture above, that inside a normal looking person, there may be a monster hiding right beneath the skin. This idea of the innocence of children and the warping of adult reality is seen throughout "The Ocean At The End Of The Lane".