I'm Broken

The song is about AIDS--"leaking rubber" refers to a condom that failed/broke and "such values you taught your son" refers to the parent not educating the son about the dangers of indiscriminate sex. Perhaps the parent went so far as to actively set a bad example by sleeping around themselves. The son imitated the behavior and look what happened.

At last, someone who's honest. He's broken. You're broken.

You know what, we're all broken.

Although he seems to be under some deluded idea that people should relate to his brokenness rather than just deal with it on his own.

I think this song is about child abuse, in the sense of parents imposing their beliefs on their child, or indoctrinating them and other such things.

The first stanza is perhaps there to illustrate that parents who do this do not actually care for the child's welfare or something.

"Too young for ones conclusion, the lifestyle won. Such values you taught your son. That's how. "

Indoctrination and forcing a lifestyle on a child is exactly what being "too young for ones conclusion" is, for the child. They haven't decided yet what to do in life, but they've had it forced on them since being only small.

The "cliched fact of life" I think, alludes specifically to the way religion feeds on a persons fear of death (note how many religions focus on an afterlife). The rest of that bit, alluding to "warnings" being "leaking rubbers" and "poisoned apples" seems to allude to the way these kind of threats that keep a child following the parent's whim actually mess them up.

"Look at me now. I'm broken. Inherit my life. " and the "you" variant of that line show, from the perspective of the child, that living through ones children often happens when the parent's life has not turned out the way they liked, so the child "inherits" it. The "you" that is introduced perhaps shows it as a cycle, that it is the same speaker as the "i'm broken" line, but directed at a new victim--the child's own offspring.

Anyways, just my point of view, awesome riff anyways.

I see a lot of quality opinions here, but to me, overusedchewtoy has presented the most sound and conscience examination. To establish my own ethos for commenting on this, let me just say I am a Pantera-phile. I own every album (including Power Metal) and I listen to Pantera every day with passion and appreciation. Dime has had a huge influence in my praxis of playing guitar. In pace requiescat to anyone who would challenge my "Pantegrity."

From all that I have read, the only thing I might claim to "know", is that the riff to this song (along with many of Pantera's) was created when Dime started jamming during a sound check with Vinnie and Rex. Everything I have read and heard is simply speculation to the literal meaning of the lyrics in this song.

As for the idea this song is about AIDS; I can see where the lyrics might paint that portrait and I won't argue that it isn't possible, I just think it would be very uncharacteristic of Pantera considering the majority of their songs were written in direct correlation to members own existential experiences. Furthermore, any real fan knows they were against empty commercial trends and the ideology of pop-culture; their music was far more personal, not like the "cosmopolitan" messages of Bono from U2 (nothing against the band) who would get more satisfaction in pleasing the many (not that there is anything truly wrong with that), but with Pantera, what you saw is what you got and they always spoke the truth. Bearing that in mind, what I hear in the lyrics is a personal message from Phil. This song was written during a time he was fighting a heroin addiction and it sounds like he is conveying that feeling of being "broken", which he has also cognized to be "inherently" related to his alcoholic father and engendered from the physical abuse he endured in his childhood. This has all guided him feelings of being overwhelmed, angry, frustrated, and bitter in mind with his dilapidated condition. All together, this just garnered an abysmal attitude toward his wellbeing.
I think this song, as well as most of the album, speaks to anyone who is deeply unhappy or unsatisfied and struggling with their human conscience. Anyone feeling this way can empathize with the song. Listen to the song "25 Years" on this same album: Far Beyond Driven. It's intense both lyrically and instrumentally, not to mention it is just an awesome song that breaks down with a killer riff at 4:38. But hey, this is just my opinion and I don't know anything.

RIP Dimebag

what do mean booooo? this is a great song!

how dare you boo this song, if you don't have any constructive criticism then shut up

fucktard cant even respect a good band when they hear it or see it. this by far my favorite pantera song.

RIP Dimebag

any body who does not like pantera sucks

this song is about the weight of the world being on your shoulders and finally breaking under it and not wanting to deal with the bullshit any more R.I.P. DARRELL LANCE ABBOT