I believe this song is about alcoholism, but not in a normal sense that alcohol is bad... It illustrates the struggle of alcoholism. The song is sung from the perspective of alcohol, as a person. It illustrates an almost romanticized relationship between this person and alcohol. There's a lot of romantic imagery used; "Drink up baby, look at the stars. I'll kiss you again between the bars." It also states the other side, though, the personal turmoil and issues brought about by alcoholism, and it's grip on your conscious mind. "The potential you'll be, but you'll never see. The promises you'll only make." The alcohol has a grip that dominates his thoughts... He can't achieve what he should be able to, because his motivation is alcohol. A really sad aspect, to me, is that at a point it shows that he realizes the hold alcohol has on him; "Where I'm seeing you there with your hands in the air
Waiting to finally be caught..." He feels its grip upon him, and he's desperately waiting for someone to see this, and help him, because he is not strong enough to face it on his own. He is drawn right back in, however, when "Alcohol" says "Drink up one more time, and I'll make you mine..." Alcohol knows the grip that it has on him, and is stating the fact that just one drink and he belongs to alcohol(ism) once more. On the other end of the spectrum, the positives of alcohol are brought into play, however, when he starts talking about forgetting about the pressures he faces, and alcohol making disturbing images and thoughts disappear, and concepts of self that he doesn't like being ameliorated.
The song isn't saying alcohol is bad, it's not saying alcohol is good. It's illustrating the inner struggle of good vs. evil, in terms of alcohol. He knows there are bad aspects, and he knows there are good. Does the good justify the toleration of the bad? He doesn't really say. He simply leaves us with "The people you've been before that you don't want around anymore, that push and shove and won't bend to your will. I'll keep them still..." It leaves us at a neutral point. He (Alcohol's perspective in the song) doesn't say that he'll make things better. He simply says "I'll keep them still..." They won't bother you, but you know they are still there... Whether or not that is suitable outcome is to the discretion of the user. The song is, simply, a tragically beautiful depiction of an inner struggle.
|
