Here's a deeper analysis of the song:
1. Loss of Control: The song's opening lines set the tone: "I wanna feel the light, but I can only see the dark..." The protagonist is expressing their desire for a better path but feels trapped in a cycle of darkness. They describe feeling lost and out of control, as if they're unable to find their way back to a brighter, more positive place.
2. Animalistic Metaphors: Throughout the song, there are repeated references to animals and wildness. The protagonist compares themself to a "roaming animal" and a "beast," suggesting a transformation into a more primal, uncontrolled state. This imagery represents the loss of rational thinking and restraint.
3. Internal Conflict: The song captures the inner turmoil experienced by the protagonist as they grapple with their darker impulses. They sing, "I find it hard to take what comes without thinking of leaving. So I stay and play pretend, till the truth comes over me," highlighting their struggle to suppress these feelings.
4. Questioning Actions: The chorus brings forth a sense of regret and self-contemplation. The protagonist asks, "Where is the man that I used to be? How did this happen to me?" They begin to question their choices and actions, expressing remorse and a desire to return to their former, more innocent self.
5. Drowning and Isolation: The lines, "I've been sinking deeper in a sea of my own sins. I've got no one but myself to blame, I built these walls to keep myself contained," convey a feeling of isolation and self-imposed imprisonment. The protagonist feels trapped in their spiral of self-destruction.
6. Breaking Free: In the bridge, a shift occurs as they sing, "I've got to break free from this cage I'm in." They express a desire to escape the darkness that's consuming them and find a way back to the surface, implying a hope for redemption.
Overall, "Animal I Have Become" explores themes of self-reflection, regret, and the battle against inner demons. It emphasizes the tension between the human desire for goodness and the pull towards destructive impulses, conveying a sense of desperation and the search for inner peace and self-control.