Lyrics
Oh, if that young punk could see me now
The speaker reflects on how a younger version of themselves might perceive their current state.
Hunched and fat and rich and sad and proud
Describes the speaker's current condition as being stooped, wealthy, sorrowful, and proud.
Elementally, sick in the flesh and pressed
Expresses a deep, inherent sickness in the speaker's physical being, possibly metaphorical.
To the end of the beat in the left of my chest
Conveys a sense of rhythmic urgency, possibly related to the heartbeat and emotions in the speaker's chest.
It's really not so bad here after all
Suggests that the current situation is not as terrible as it might seem initially.
The trick is not to think on it too long
Advises against dwelling on the situation for too long as a coping mechanism.
And certainly not to write a song
Discourages the act of writing a song about the speaker's struggles, possibly implying a desire to avoid self-pity.
About being in thrall to my dying fall
Acknowledges a sense of being enslaved or captivated by the inevitable decline toward death.
There was a little music in me once
Recalls a time when the speaker had musical inspiration within them.
There was a draw to build, to shape, to form
Expresses a natural inclination to create and shape things.
To find and foster something sweet and warm
Describes a longing for warmth and sweetness in the speaker's life.
And pull the heart a little nearer, or squeeze an honest tear
Mentions a desire to bring the heart closer and evoke genuine emotions.
It's really not so bad here after all
Reiterates that the current situation is not as dire as it may seem.
The trick is not to think on it too long
Emphasizes the importance of not dwelling on the difficulties for an extended period.
And certainly not to write a song
Repeats the discouragement of writing a song about the speaker's struggles.
About being in thrall to my dying fall
Reiterates the sense of being captivated or enslaved by the approaching death.
Some men possess a stomach made of lead
Introduces a metaphor of some men having a strong and unyielding stomach.
Some women bear the voices of the dead
Introduces a metaphor of some women carrying the voices of the dead, possibly burdened by past experiences.
The dead and sick, they often sound the same
Highlights the similarity between the voices of the dead and those who are physically sick.
They came
Introduces the arrival of the dead, possibly symbolizing haunting memories or unresolved issues.
Arm in arm they came
Describes the collective arrival of the dead, marching together.
And into the dark they led
Suggests the dead led the speaker into darkness, possibly metaphorical.
Arm in arm they came
Repeats the idea of the dead leading, emphasizing their collective action.
It's really not so bad here after all
Restates that the current situation is not as terrible as it might seem initially.
The trick is not to think on it too long
Reiterates the advice to avoid prolonged contemplation of difficulties.
And certainly not to write a song
Repeats the discouragement of expressing the struggles through songwriting.
About being in thrall to my dying fall
Reiterates the sense of being captivated or enslaved by the approaching death.
It's really not so bad here after all
Emphasizes again that the current situation is not as dire as it may seem.
The trick is not to think on it too long
Reiterates the importance of not dwelling on difficulties for too long.
There is no magic draught or healing pill
Rejects the existence of a magical cure or healing solution.
I wear the skin of the man that I swore to kill
Describes the speaker wearing the skin of someone they swore to kill, possibly symbolizing internal conflict or self-destructive tendencies.
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