Lyrically, as the name of the band would suggest, they deal with themes relating to solitude, loneliness, alienation, self-exploration, and pain. Some of the song lyrics deal with deeper Philosophical issues. Like many metal bands, Shape of Despair's lyrics and themes have been attributed by some to the influence of American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. One of the first bands credited playing funeral doom metal are fellow country-folk Thergothon. Like many other bands of the sub-genre, Thergothon have lyrics either directly referencing Lovecraft's fictional works, poetry, or around themes he promulgated.