“Square Hammer” is a song that describes the meeting of dark forces. In the lyrics, the song’s narrator corrupts his listener with an invitation to a mysterious gathering in the night. Macabre powers are at work, and the task at hand seems to be something demonic and unsavory.
Tobias Forge wrote the track with the intention of creating a great opener for Ghost’s shows. Even though it ended up being a closing track more often, the riff is still an absolute earworm. The lyrics to this song came second to the riff, but they follow the dark and sacrilegious concept of the album.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at this song’s creepy lyrics to decipher their hidden meaning. We’ll also examine the songwriting story and the themes that give this song its success. Without further ado, let’s dive in!
“Square Hammer” Lyrics Meaning
The lyrics begin by setting a dark scene for the rest of the track. Forge is “living in the night” under “heavens torn asunder.” There is darkness and restless weather outside, and Forge appears to be in his element there.
He addresses the listener, who calls on Forge to “solve a crooked rhyme.” This is a form of euphemism for an activity that is not forthright. Whatever the pair is up to is no good and needs the cover of darkness to proceed.
Nonetheless, Forge does proceed, “imposing on” the listener’s slumber. As he advances, we learn that the listener is not an unwilling participant in this upcoming evil deed. “As bells begin to chime,” the listener calls on Forge in anticipation of their meeting.
The bells are likely sounding to mark the passage of time. It’s also possible that they are the bells of a church, which adds another layer of sacrilege to the song’s general message.
After this verse, the first chorus kicks off. Forge asks us if we are “on the square” and “on the level.” These are questions that would normally be asked to ensure honesty and above-board conduct. The contrast between these questions and the disturbing lyrical narrative creates a sense of dark irony.
Forge continues and demands that the listener swears his dedication “before the devil.” If this requirement is met, we’ll be allowed to “stand right here” for whatever mysterious ritual lies ahead. It appears that there is a sense of loyalty among the depraved.
In verse two, the culmination of the dark magic is getting closer. Forge and the listener are still “hiding from the light” as time marches on. Forge then mentions granting the listener “entrance to the shrine,” confirming that some kind of ritual is taking place.
After this is revealed, we see the morbid truth behind the process. This ritual demands “hammering the nails into a sacred coffin,” indicating that the realm of the dead is being interfered with somehow. Something unholy is going on, but Forge implies that he will provide “powers clandestine” to produce the intended effect.
At this point, the song just repeats the chorus until the end. To sum up, “Square Hammer” is an impressionistic description of a dark ritual. Both participants – Forge and the listener – supply their part for the macabre process to take place. The result is left mysterious, but we are left to imagine the horrors these actions will awaken.
This song likely owes its success to the presence of wicked curiosity in all of us. The lyrics and the catchy riff tap into that disturbing energy, and the song has captivated people just like a horror movie.
The Story Behind “Square Hammer”
In this case, the music undoubtedly preceded the lyrics. Tobias Forge, according to an interview with Loudwire, “nicked” the picking pattern from a previous composition. With a few tweaks, the heavy guitar part became capable of being the heart of this dense track.
Around this riff, Forge got creative lyrically while ensuring the track fit with the concept of the album. This even applies to the music video, which is done in an antique horror style. He described the song as an “out of nowhere” idea that managed to seriously impact his career.
When deciding to write the track in the first place, Forge set out to create a “killer opener” for Ghost. He felt that this was something the group lacked in their set and he wanted to fill the hole. Funnily enough, the song is regularly used as the closing number for Ghost’s shows, which just goes to show you that plans really never survive first contact.
Regardless of this change of plans, “Square Hammer” can only be considered a critical and commercial success. Loudwire named the track its metal song of the year, and it topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart for two weeks.
The next time you listen to this black-hearted metal hit, let these little bits of background information make it even more special!