Deftones – The Spell of Mathematics: Lyrics and Meanings

The Spell of Mathematics is Track 05 on Deftones’ album Ohms.

The Spell of Mathematics Song Lyrics:

I drink the poison right from your hands
A sacred vow, it engulfs me
We slip and we slide and in time we create
A feeling of warmth inside of you
Holy and strict, six times a day
We will exchange our violent ways
But the beauty is when you touch me
I believe your love
Has placed its spell on me
And I believe your love
Is the only thing needed to survive
I believe your love
Creates this space where we can breathe
But I believe your love beholds this sacred key to life
The snakes come pouring out of your heart
Yeah, you know that I can’t deny them
So I sink inside where we writhe and create
That feeling that pangs my time with you
We sway in the wind inside a haze
Yeah, you speak your language
What am I to say?
I’ll just wait for your limbs to touch me
I believe your love
Has placed its spell on me
And I believe your love
Is the only thing needed to survive
I believe your love creates a space where we can breathe
I believe your love
Beholds the sacred key to life

The Spell of Mathematics Song Meaning:

The Spell of Mathematics is a very yin and yang type of lyrical song. While it sounds like a song about a lover and life, and definitely can be interpreted that way with words like “sacred vows” and “beauty is when you touch me”, it seems to also have a deeper level of meaning as well.

In a non obvious way Deftones touch on the ups and downs, the torture and peace of mind, of love and spirit. This song nearly questions if it a blessing or a curse to believe in something greater than us. The song ends with a trance like feeling with heavy elements, emphasizing the polarizing thoughts and emotions.

Mathematics are true and factual, while a spell is more spiritual and fantasy. The blending of these words really help secure the yin and yang, polarizing feeling of the song.