[[Gotisk fiktion]], en litterær genre der blander [[horror]] og [[romantisk kærlighed|romantik]], har været en inspirerende kilde for mange gothic metal-bands' sangtekster, deriblandt Cadaveria,<ref>{{cite web |author=Harper, Rick |url=http://www.soniccathedral.com/webzine/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=256&Itemid=36 |title=Interview with Cadaveria of Cadaveria |publisher=Soniccathedral.com |access-date=2008-05-07 |archive-date= 8. juni 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608020013/http://www.soniccathedral.com/webzine/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=256&Itemid=36 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Cradle of Filth,<ref>{{cite web |author=Lee, David |title=Interview with Dani Filth of Cradle of Filth |url=http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/COF.htm |publisher=Metal-rules.com |access-date=2008-06-10}}</ref> Moonspell,<ref>{{cite web |author=Rivadavia, Eduardo |title=''Memorial'' review |url=http://wm04.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fpfuxqudldse |publisher=[[Allmusic]] |access-date=2008-06-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Theatres des Vampires]]<ref>{{cite web |author=Borgioli-Jones, David |title=Interview with Sonya Scarlet of Theatres des Vampires |url=http://www.rockdetector.com/interviews/artist,9240.sm |publisher=[[Rockdetector]] |access-date=2008-06-10}}</ref> og [[Xandria]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Wolff, John |title=Interview with Lisa Schaphaus of Xandria |publisher=Soniccathedral.com |url=http://www.soniccathedral.com/webzine/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=122&Itemid=36 |access-date=2008-06-10 |archive-date= 4. august 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804003210/http://www.soniccathedral.com/webzine/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=122&Itemid=36 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Anmelder Ed Rivadavia fra [[All Music Guide]] identificerer drama og "sørgmodig skønhed" som fornødne elementer i genren.<ref name="AMGAshes"/> My Dying Bride har brugt temaer som "død og håbløshed, tabt kærlighed og romantik" flere gange fra forskellige vinkler.<ref>{{cite web |author=Stefanis, John |title=Interview with Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride |url=http://www.getreadytorock.com/pure_metal/my_dying_bride_interview.htm |publisher=Getreadytorock.com |access-date=2008-05-07}}</ref> Det almindelige gotiske tema om tabt kærlighed<ref>[[#refKilpatrick2004|Kilpatrick 2004]], s. 208</ref> er et emne, der er blevet brugt på af gothic metal-bands som Theatre of Tragedy<ref>{{cite web |author=Rozz |title=Interview with Lorentz Aspen of Theatre of Tragedy 
|url=http://www.metalstorm.ee/pub/interview.php?interview_id=168&page=&message_id= |publisher=Metalstorm.ee |access-date=2008-05-07}}</ref> og Leaves' Eyes.<ref>{{cite web |author=Seaver, Morley |title=Interview with Liv Kristine of Leaves' Eyes |publisher=Antimusic.com |url=http://www.antimusic.com/morley/05/LeavesEyes.shtml |access-date=2008-05-07}}</ref>
  
Sangtekster baseret på personlige oplevelser er et andet almindeligt indhold for mange goth metal-grupper såsom Anathema,<ref>{{cite web |author=Pedro Azevedo |title=Interview with Vincent Kavanagh of Anathema |url=http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles/chats/1-173_anathema.aspx |publisher=Chronicles of Chaos |access-date=2008-05-07}}</ref> [[Elis (band)|Elis]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Dunphy, John |title=Interview with Sabine Duenser of Elis |url=http://www.musictap.net/Interviews/SabineDuenserElisInterview060605.htm |publisher=Musictap.net |access-date=2008-05-07 |archive-date=18. september 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918100721/http://www.musictap.net/Interviews/SabineDuenserElisInterview060605.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Tiamat]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview with Johan Edlund, Anders Iwers and Fredrik Åkesson of Tiamat |url=http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/tiamat.html |publisher=Tartareandesire.com |access-date=2008-05-07 |archive-date=17. juni 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617114404/http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/tiamat.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Midnattsol]]<ref name="DiscMid">{{cite web |author=Fisher, Mark |title=Interview with Carmen Espanaes of Midnattsol |url=http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/reviews/midnattsol.htm |publisher=Musicaldiscoveries.com |access-date=2008-05-07}}</ref> og [[The Old Dead Tree]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Matthijssens, Vera |title=Interview with Manuel Mundoz of The Old Dead Tree |publisher=Lordsofmetal.nl |url=http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showinterview.php?id=1880&lang=en |access-date=2008-05-07}}</ref>
Graveworm bevægede sig væk fra fantasyhistorier til fordel for personlige sangtekster, da de fandt dem mere passende i deres musikalske stil.<ref>{{cite web |author=Van Berlo, Boris |title=Interview with Stefan Fiori of Graveworm |url=http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/graveworm2.html |publisher=Tartareandesire.com |access-date=2008-05-07 |archive-date= 6. november 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106130619/http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/graveworm2.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Teksterne fra det italienske band [[Lacuna Coil]] indeholder heller ikke "fantasy eller noget, du ikke kan finde i virkeligheden", da deres sangerinde [[Cristina Scabbia]] ønsker, at folk skal kunne identificere sig med hendes bands sangtekster.<ref>{{cite web |author=Wolff, John |title=Interview with Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil |publisher=Soniccathedral.com |url=http://www.soniccathedral.com/webzine/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=115&Itemid=36 |access-date=2008-05-07 |archive-date=26. oktober 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026010837/http://www.soniccathedral.com/webzine/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=115&Itemid=36 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ligeledes handler gruppen Lullacry's tekster om kærlighed, had, lidenskab og smerte, da de mener at en person lettere kan relatere til sangen, når den omhandler "menneskelige forhold."<ref>{{cite web |author=Elliot, R. W. |title=Interview with Tanja Lainio of Lullacry |publisher=Musicaldiscoveries.com |url=http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/reviews/lullacry.htm |access-date=2008-05-07}}</ref>
Musik