Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
The cup is not half empty as pessimists say
As far as he sees nothing's left in the cup
A whole cup full of nothing for him to indulge
Since the voice of ambition has long since been shut up
A singer, a writer, he's not dreaming now of going nowhere
He gave heed to nothing, and all that he was
Is just a tragedy
So he voyages in circles
Succeeds getting nowhere
And submits to the substance
That first got him there, there, there, there
Violent, frustration, he cries out to God or just no one
Is there a point to this madness and all that he was
Is just a tragedy
He feels alone
His heart in his hand
He's alone
He feels alone
I feel
Then on that last day he breaks
And he stood tall
Then he yelled, and he yelled (why world, why world, hate you, hate you, bye world)
Violent, frustration, he cries out to God or just no one
Is there a point to this madness and all that he was
Is just a tragedy
As far as he sees nothing's left in the cup
A whole cup full of nothing for him to indulge
Since the voice of ambition has long since been shut up
A singer, a writer, he's not dreaming now of going nowhere
He gave heed to nothing, and all that he was
Is just a tragedy
So he voyages in circles
Succeeds getting nowhere
And submits to the substance
That first got him there, there, there, there
Violent, frustration, he cries out to God or just no one
Is there a point to this madness and all that he was
Is just a tragedy
He feels alone
His heart in his hand
He's alone
He feels alone
I feel
Then on that last day he breaks
And he stood tall
Then he yelled, and he yelled (why world, why world, hate you, hate you, bye world)
Violent, frustration, he cries out to God or just no one
Is there a point to this madness and all that he was
Is just a tragedy
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This is such a beautiful song. The screaming adds the emotions and frustrating feeling... it's like a feeling of being trapped and just not being able to change anything. It's just a wonderful song, I relate to it and that's why I like it. I wouldn't mind dying with this song playing in the background... ahh it would be just perfect. It's undescribable.