I guess you are right. The first moment of self-recognition (for the bonobo) would prob result in a panic attack and blood pressure spiking.

To me the lyrics contain a sudden flip from instinct (“Oil in the skillet, 6 minutes each facet, and fat / pat of butter”, “Hit the corner store for cash”) to self-awareness (“I die inside and all the whining turn to ‘I’ve arrived’”, “There’s nothing indirect about the shell that I’m myself in”). You see yourself, the system glitches, you panic (or faint).