How does “The only thing I know for real” describe Jetstream Sam’s mental state?

 

21.04.2022

 

“The only thing I know for real” was made by Jamie Christopherson and was released in 2013 in conjunction with the game “Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance”. In my own personal opinion, the song is made to convey the motive behind Sam’s actions and how his mental state affects his thoughts and actions.

 

Jetstream Sam can be compared to a samurai like character as he wields a katana, and he goes around looking for fights to test his own skill. He works for the “World Marshall” which is a government driven corporation that uses war to gain power and money. His reasons to fight are never elaborated upon fully but can be found through analyzing the song “The only thing I know for real”

[Verse 1]

Memories broken,      

the truth goes unspoken,

I’ve even forgotten my name.

I don’t know the season

Or what is the reason

Standing here holding my blade

 

To me, these lyrics show how the name Jetstream Sam is just a way he expresses his personality as it is a nickname, it also conveys his current mental state being empty and filled with the thought of fighting. He talks about how he doesn’t know the reason, but he still chooses to stand and hold his blade readying himself for a fight. His memories being “broken” are referring to his past as before joining the “World Marshall” Sam went around in Brazil fighting drug cartels to end crime and hone his fighting skills, but after losing to a powerful foe from the “World Marshall” he accepts defeat and becomes what he sought to destroy.

 

[Verse 1 continued]

A desolate place (place)

Without any trace (trace),

It's only the cold wind I feel

It's me that I spite

as I stand up and fight,

The only thing I know for real

These lyrics confirm this fact as we can interpret that the desolate place with the cold air is a metaphor for his own sadness and feeling of emptiness, he even does self-harm as he is spiting himself by standing up and fighting with no real motive.

 

“Oh no, there will be blood- (blood)

 -shed (shed) It's the only thing I've ever known”

 

[Chorus]

There will be blood (blood) -

-shed (shed)

The man in the mirror nods his head

The only one

Left

Will ride upon the dragon’s back

Because the mountains don’t give back what they take

Oh, no, there will be blood (blood)-

-shed (shed)

It’s the only thing I’ve ever known

 

The background of Sam is conveyed through these lines as it talks about how Sam’s entire life has revolved around the taking of others’ lives and the echo of the words “blood” and “shed” shows how ingrained this is in his mind. The “man in the mirror” is referring to Sam himself and by him nodding it further emphasizes how Sam’s only goal is to kill and slaughter.

 

 “The only one left” shows how Sam finds reality to be a battle royale of some sort as he will fight and fight until he is the only human being left alive and “the dragon’s back” is just a comparison between the feeling of accomplishment that Sam will feel when he is done as dragon’s are exotic beasts that symbolize fearlessness and power.

 

The mountains are a metaphor for his enemies, and they’re not giving back what they take because injuries can only be dealt and not be taken back. Sam’s lust for slaughter has even caused him the need to make his right arm cybernetically enhanced as it got heavily damaged in one of his fights.

 

[Verse 2]

Losing my identity

Wondering, have I gone insane?

To find the truth in front of me

I must climb this mountain range

Looking downward from this deadly height

And never realizing why I fight

 

 

The final piece of the lyric confirms my previous assumptions as even Sam questions whether he should be doing what he is doing, but quickly his mind tries to deter away from the morality of his actions, and he tells himself that the truth will be revealed after he “climbs this mountain range” which is actually an infinite climb as he has no set goal and therefore will kill an infinite amount of people before finding said truth.

 

My personal opinion

“The only thing I know for real” is one of my favorite songs from Jamie’s many wonderful creations and it is so from the great use of literary devices and how so much can be conveyed in such a short handful of lyrics. Sam’s psychological state is perfectly described by this song, and I don’t think he could have done a better job personally, the game that the song comes with is also fantastic and I recommend you check it out.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXRxRTW6nXg&ab_channel=VariousArtists-Topic