The song "Unspeakable" by Exhumed tells the story of Dr. Knox and his associates, Burke and Hare, who were notorious grave robbers and murderers in the 19th century. The lyrics describe their gruesome trade of selling fresh corpses to medical schools for dissection and study. Dr. Knox, the main character, sees corpses as a form of currency and assigns different values to them based on their freshness. The chorus exclaims the unspeakable nature of their actions, which implies the horrifying and immoral nature of their deeds. Burke and Hare, Dr. Knox's associates, join him in celebrating the benefits they gain from their heinous acts. They discuss the financial gains and the lack of consequences for their actions. They see their victims as insignificant and expendable, referring to them as tramps, urchins, and those living lives without worth. The lyrics suggest that the demand for fresh corpses by medical institutions is so high that they resort to murder and grave robbing. Dr. Knox justifies his actions by claiming that society would benefit from their expedited deaths. Through the song, the band explores the dark and disturbing world of body snatching and the moral depravity of those involved in such practices. It sheds light on the greed and disregard for human life that existed during that time in history.
