Although at face value it appears the song is about a guilt of British colonisation, the lyrics don't refer to that. They only reference (what was then) modern South Africa.

Although at face value it appears the song is about a guilt of British colonisation, the lyrics don't refer to that. They only reference (what was then) modern South Africa.

Bear in mind when the song was written Apartheid was still a major issue in South Africa. And although the British government of the time criticised the situation, they were happy to continue reaping financial and business benefits of their links to the country. Hence the "money" in the song "supporting an army" killing the Africans. That's 1980's British government investment money.

Bear in mind when the song was written Apartheid was still a major issue in South Africa. And although the British government of the time criticised the situation, they were happy to continue reaping financial and business benefits of their links to the country. Hence the "money" in the song "supporting an army" killing the Africans. That's 1980's British government investment money.

So the...

So the song is more of modern day guilt than coloniser guilt.

I saw this song about escaping so far into your imagination and hiding it to be what's considered, “normal.”

I saw this song about escaping so far into your imagination and hiding it to be what's considered, “normal.”

“You don't remember my name, I don't really care.” I've had many experiences of people forgetting my name. The feeling of being over looked becomes a belief that you truly are forgettable and people knowing you becomes less of a desire. You don't care anymore because you've been so alone that you're too deep inside your mind. “Can we play the game your way?” I took this very literally. As a lonely child, your imagination is what you rely on. Playing games...

“You don't remember my name, I don't really care.” I've had many experiences of people forgetting my name. The feeling of being over looked becomes a belief that you truly are forgettable and people knowing you becomes less of a desire. You don't care anymore because you've been so alone that you're too deep inside your mind. “Can we play the game your way?” I took this very literally. As a lonely child, your imagination is what you rely on. Playing games with other children can be different since you have this intricate imagination and everyone playing make believe tends to turn to you to keep the game up and you just want to lose yourself in the imagination with everyone instead of holding the game up. “Can I really lose control?” About wanting to lose yourself in the imagination. I felt the chorus was like wanting to break your reality and just let the imaginary world consume you. Doing all the things you imagined but never had the chance to do because you were so isolated. Keeping an entire imaginary reality inside yourself is a borderline tormenting experience. “Mary had a lamb, his eyes black as coal.” As a child with a different mind, your imagination can be very dark and twisted, especially if it's based on wanting to feel the emotions you're not allowed to. You are drawn to dark stories and twist the stories everyone expects you to be drawn to at your age; instead of seeing the innocence of the white wool, you see the darkness of the eyes. “If we play very quiet, my lamb, Mary never has to know.” About hiding what goes on inside your mind. The fantasies, the games with the figments of your imagination. You start to become ashamed of playing games as you get older. You try to hide your imagination, because it's freakish. “If I cut you down down to a thing I can use, I fear they'd be nothing good left you.” At the time people start to reach out to you, wanting you to open up to them, you've spent so much time inside her mind. You think too much about everything, sometimes you think you're actually insane. Because you were so isolated, you don't connect to people the same way. I've always imagined Amy singing this to someone who wants to get to know her, but she's afraid that if she let them in, made them understand, they would be ruined by it. This whole song is just about that feeling of just wanting to break free, even if it makes you considered crazy, or evil, or disgusting, or sinful. About imagining breaking free. I absolutely love this song to death.