Fiction

I agree almost completely with Garte13's post. From what I've seen on Youtube comments, many people seem to outright reject the possibility that the Rev committed suicide because they don't want to believe it. But I think this song makes it very tragically clear. The straightforward lyrics and the fact that the song was turned in only three days before he died aren't the only suggestions of suicide. He wrote this song nine years before for Pinkly Smooth and ONLY decided to turn it in to A7x a short time before he died. When he turned it in (this is only what I heard) he told Shadows "That's it, the last song" and walked out. He told people when he was only 15 that he'd die before 30. Medication overdose is an extremely common way of killing yourself, and it's universally known that oxycotin and alcohol is a fatal combination. The Rev took pain medications for a serious heart condition for a very long time, and the disease probably caused him a lot of pain and suffering, which may even mean that he had contemplated suicide long before (this would explain the 'dying before 30' comment). Basically, even if you don't believe he DELIBERATELY overdosed himself, it's pretty obvious by the fact that he wrote this song that he KNEW he was going to die. And of course the lyrics in So Far Away and Save Me suggest that the band knew it (for a long time, even, who knows) and were deeply saddened but most likely respected his decision.

(Of course, for all I know this could all be just a big stretch, a big speculation, as we'll never find out. If Jimmy did kill himself, A7x wouldn't want it to go public, and I would understand them, because people are such dicks about it. From the Youtube comments you can quickly tell that many people wouldn't respect his decision to end his pain. So I'm just stating things that back up my hypothesis but I'm not establishing it as fact. It's just the feeling I get from all these insinuations...)

What I don't completely agree with is Garte's interpretation of this verse, although his does also make sense.

Not that I could Or that I would Let it burn Under my skin Let it burn

In my opinion, Jimmy's making a reference to the heart problem (cardiomegaly) that's been causing his pain. He's saying here that he wouldn't, and couldn't, let "it" (the disease) continue to burn under his skin. He just didn't want it to keep making him suffer, so he decided to end it once and for all by taking his life and going to the peace just on the other side...

It's tragic that he had to go so early. In a world where talent in music is rare and undervalued, it hits even harder that such a multifaceted, versatile, skillful, unique and talented musician is gone foREVer. I regret never having seen A7x in concert while the Rev was still alive. A7x is practically a perfect band, with phenomenally and equally gifted members, and it may sound corny, but you can't deny that without the Rev, some of that perfection is lost... while Portnoy is an extremely good replacement, it'll never be the same again. The Rev's voice and composition skills were unique to him.

That being said, however, I have been greatly empowered by the ability of the remaining A7x members to carry on... their unbelievable strength in overcoming this loss is very inspiring and admirable to me, and comforts me in some way. This is why I love both the band and its music. The music can express such a wide range of emotions, and the band members are emotionally strong with great character and a great devotion to their fans.

Although I think it's terrible that Jimmy killed himself, it doesn't change my respect for him as a very extraordinarily talented musician. And I respect his decision.