The song "So Let It Be Rotten... So Let It Be Done" by Exhumed explores the themes of death, decay, and the macabre. The lyrics depict a grotesque and morbid scene where the dead are desensitized, deformed, and transformed into zombies. The song highlights the irony of death and the mockery that is made of it. The first verse describes how the dead, once desensitized to their decayed state, become a distorted representation of their former selves. They are depicted as a mockery, with death masks to evoke fear in the living. The use of formaldehyde in embalming rituals is mentioned, symbolizing the rebirth of the dead. The chorus repeats the phrase "So let it be rotten, so let it be done," suggesting a surrender to the inevitable process of decay and decomposition. The narrator wants to accept death's reality and embraces its grotesque nature. In the second verse, the lyrics speak to the absurdity and obscenity of death, which goes beyond the limits of acceptability. The dead are described as being in rigor mortis, unaffected by the beauty of flowers like orchids, lilies, or roses. Their decomposition is unhindered and unmoved. The lyrics also touch upon the deception surrounding death. The scent of decay lies beneath the surface, yet it remains hidden and inaccessible. The coldness of death would ruin funeral wreaths, symbolizing the destruction of beauty in the face of death. The "mendacious mask" represents the false appearance of the dead, while putrefaction (decay) operates silently behind it. The second chorus reiterates the acceptance and embrace of decay and decomposition. Death is personified as a worm that makes its way into the corpse, beginning its work. This emphasizes the inevitability and persistence of death's processes. Overall, "So Let It Be Rotten... So Let It Be Done" delves into the morbid fascination with death, its grotesque nature, and the acceptance of the decay that follows. The song showcases Exhumed's exploration of themes commonly found in death metal and horror-inspired music.
