- published: 08 Jul 2016
- views: 0
"Bat Country" is a song by Avenged Sevenfold. The song was released in August 2005 as the second single from their third album, City of Evil. Avenged Sevenfold won 'Best New Artist Video' at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards for "Bat Country" and on October 1, 2009, the single was certified gold by the RIAA. For these reasons, "Bat Country" is often believed to be the band's most commercially successful song. The song was peaked at number 20 on Loudwire's Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs.
The song's main influence comes from Hunter S. Thompson's 1971 novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and the title itself also comes from a line from the book in which Raoul Duke, the alter-ego pseudonym of Thompson himself, is on his way to Las Vegas while being affected by various drugs, and thus hallucinates, seeing huge bats and manta rays in the sky. With this, he gasps to his companion and attorney, Dr. Gonzo, "We can't stop here. This is bat country."
The following quote, also included at the beginning of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, is referred to twice throughout the song (at the beginning and the bridge before the last chorus) and is shown at the beginning of the music video.
He who makes a beast out of himself
Gets rid of the pain of being a man
Caught here in a fiery blaze, won't lose my will to stay
I tried to drive all through the night
The heat stroke ridden weather, the barren empty sights
No oasis here to see
The sand is singing deathless words to me
Can't you help me? As I'm startin' to burn
(All alone)
Too many doses and I'm starting to get an attraction
My confidence is leaving me on my own
(All alone)
No one can save me and you know I don't want the attention
As I adjust to my new sights
The rarely tired lights will take me to new heights
My hand is on the trigger I'm ready to ignite
Tomorrow might not make it but everything's all right
Mental fiction follow me
Show me what it's like to be set free
Can't you help me? As I'm startin' to burn
(All alone)
Too many doses and I'm starting to get an attraction
My confidence is leaving me on my own
(All alone)
No one can save me and you know I don't want the attention
I'm sorry you're not here
I've been sane too long my vision's so unclear
Now take a trip with me
But don't be surprised when things aren't what they seem
Caught here in a fiery blaze, won't lose my will to stay
These eyes won't see the same, after I flip today
Sometimes I don't know why we'd rather live than die
We look up towards the sky for answers to our lives
We may get some solutions but most just pass us by
Don't want your absolution 'cause I can't make it right
I'll make a beast out of myself
Gets rid of all the pain of being a man
Can't you help me? As I'm startin' to burn
(All alone)
Too many doses and I'm starting to get an attraction
My confidence is leaving me on my own
(All alone)
No one can save me and you know I don't want the attention
I'm sorry you're not here
I've been sane too long my vision's so unclear
Now take a trip with me
But don't be surprised when things aren't what they seem
I've known it from the start
All these good ideas will tear your brain apart
Scared but you, you follow me