Slave Called Shiver

"When I was writing some of the songs of the album I was very much aware of this contradiction between being an artist, being a musician, trying to be creative and write songs and, then, at the point you finish an album, the music is finished, the creative side is finished, you then have to go out and sell and market and promote. And that's like a completely different experience. It's not a very creative process. It's quite - in some ways - a cynical process going on having to sell your music. But you have to do it. I mean, if a modern musician is going to survive as a musician, you have to - in a sense - 'prostitute yourself' to try and sell your music and your art. And I was very much aware of that contradiction. If you think about that too much, it can drive you crazy, you know. It's an absurd thing to be doing. That kind of led me thinking about when I was a teenager, when I was just starting out and I was interested in being a musician. And I think a lot of teenage kids have this dream of being pop stars, of being a professional musician. This 'stupid dream' of being famous and 'life is a ball and everything is wonderful'. And, of course, actually the reality is that being a professional musician is a very hard work. It can be very heartbreaking, there's a lot of disappointment, there's a lot of hard work, there's a lot of traveling." -Steven Wilson

I really agree in terms that the reference could be based on Lennon's commentary regarding Beatles being bigger than God (Jesus Christ). But, i went a little further in comparing the song with a drug, particular with cocaine. I am not sure why, but immediately when i listened to the song, i figured in this case "cocaine" as talking in first person "i have more followers than Jesus Christ" being "more addicts of me, rather than Catholics" (which could be even more disturbing). The key comes also by the tittle "Slave called Shiver" (shiver if i understand is what happens when you get cold and also, when you are in drug-treatment). Here comes Lennon again with "Cold Turkey" or the sensation when you quit the drugs...don't know, i may be damn wrong but wanted to share my thoughts with you.

Its probably just about an obsession of someone.

The "mother" may indicate that its a child whose obsessed with an celebrity

no.

This song disturbs me.

And maybe it's just me, but I thought this song was about obsession with famous people, and the modern-day desire to be famous. But eh...

It seems to me like someone obsessed with a certain woman, and is trying to do dangerous things so she'll notice/ like him. (If I hurt myself it's just for show/ Through all the smashing things and crashing cars)

Of all the Porcupine Tree songs out there this one is probably the most disturbing, i don't know why it must be the way SW sings in it. (strip the soul with the video is also pretty damn disturbing) I think its about being obsessed with being a star or being obsessed with somone that is a star. Fits with the theme.

I'll have more followers than Jesus Christ. Purely awesome. Song is about loving someone from afar, but the affection isnt returned, and so the pursuer is getting slightly crazy and violent. My interpretation via SW.

Yes, "Jesus Christ" should be capitalised. Even if you don't believe in God, Jesus Christ is still a name so by laws of grammar it should be capitalised.

The only line that weirded me out was the aforementioned one, which to me seems to be a direct reference to John Lennon's famous quip, "We're [The Beatles] more popular than Jesus Christ." In this context, the lyric means that in a way to cope for the lack of love given to him by the girl in question, the speaker will become famous enough to drown her out.

Creepy as hell...whoever Steven Wilson is thinking of in these lyrics, I never want to meet!