A Warm Place Lyrics

"A Warm Place" can be regarded as the turning point of the album. It is the only instrumental, discounting the practically inaudible spoken words at the beginning. Its tranquil and soothing nature highly contrasts with the other tracks on the album, which all contain loud and angry parts. The melody originated from the mind of David Bowie in his 1980 instrumental song Crystal Japan. The previous track, "Big Man With A Gun," is arguably the most chaotic on the album. The narrator asserts his power and domination over samples of tortured screams. The last instance of "nothing can stop me now" in the album is shouted, and this is perhaps his last straw (no pun intended). At just over a minute and a half, "Big Man With A Gun" suddenly collapses, and "A Warm Place" starts immediately. The narrator has begun a drastic change in point of view. He experiences a moment of clarity to truly consider his situation in a way unhindered by intoxicants, or perhaps enhanced by them. Backed by the melancholy piano tune, he realizes who he has become and what he has done. He had known subconsciously before, and he had voiced the varying attributes (the title of "The Becoming" being the most obvious example), but he had not yet come to grips with the real consequences of his character and actions, which differ from the extreme views he had expressed previously. "Warm" contrasts with the cold, indifferent quality of machines, which are sampled throughout the album. This "warm place" relates to the womb or to the rise in body temperature during intercourse, where life begins. "A Warm Place" and "Eraser" may be considered two acts to one song, with the former being critical and necessary for the latter.