The song "Numb" by Exodus delves into the narrator's emotional detachment and apathy towards the suffering and destruction in the world. The lyrics convey a sense of numbness and indifference that has hardened their soul to the point of being callous and remorseless. The narrator describes feeling unfeeling and cold, having lost all sense of empathy and pity. They find sympathy and compassion to be useless and unappealing. The chorus emphasizes their detached state, highlighting their black-hearted and worthless nature, their desensitization and ruthlessness. The song goes on to depict various examples of the narrator's indifference. They mention a dead body on the street, indicating that they wouldn't give it a second glance. They view famine and poverty as mere victims of circumstance, showing a lack of concern. The tedium of killing, thieving, and grieving has consumed them, leaving no room for reaction or empathy. The chorus reiterates the narrator's disassociation and their disillusionment with what they have become. They feel sickened by their emotional numbness but acknowledge that the world's chaos and disorder have contributed to their current state. In the final verse, the narrator reflects on a time when they were once shocked and affected by the horrors of the world. However, now they yawn at the presence of death and feel no sorrow for being emotionally detached. The lyrics suggest a pessimistic outlook, as they seemingly accept and even revel in the rot and decay surrounding them. Overall, "Numb" portrays a person who has become emotionally numb and detached as a coping mechanism to navigate a world filled with suffering, chaos, and apathy.
