South Side

Yes, the verse lyrics seem to describe a hopeless yet comfortable lifestyle, supported by this constant exploration. I may just be wrong, but there are some songs that feel just quite right in what they mean and this is one of them. Does not matter WHERE you go or WHAT you have to do to get there. Some may come love and some may stay. But what does it matter when you are the devoted one who is there to score for better or worse. Some may NOT come, but you surely will if it all means the precious high that will keep you moving and not sick for life. Who wants to be sick for life? Not me. Opiates sure will control your life, through heaven and hell it matters little as long as you score in the end. Pouring rain, ghetto, risk, time, relationships, nothing matters you see? weapons in hand is a side effect. East Side? West Side? North Side? South Side? Who the F*** cares??? It all ends the same. Some may die (OD) some may not because they know better control. Your love for them is very much not dependent on this control, it is random, unfair, fate at is most unpredictable moment. You could loose your smartest, dumbest, best, worst friend to this disease, you just NEVER know. " Love and darkness and my sidearm." Totally numb, "I look at my friends" but very little emotion is drawn from this line. My friends (the junkies) are just alike, we hope we wont die but we ride through heaven and hell with little regard as we all have the same goal. I almost forgot to mention... "comin back love I feel so well" the score was a success, now the sickness of withdrawal is gone, on your way back (shooting, smoking, or snorting) you feel much better and all the troubles of the sober past are gone as you repeat the vicious cycle of addiction. Even if you didn't take the hit on your way home, the drug is in your possession and this creates respite for your mind as you know now that the horrors of withdrawal will be kept at bay for yet another night.

Even though I identify with this song perfectly in terms of opiate/heroin addiction, I would love to hear other opinions, especially if you think I am wrong! I would LOVE to hear people who completely agree with me but it is a beautiful some and I would LOVE to hear other interpretations. Throw me a line!!!

You got it man, as a Ex-addict you got this song 100%. I live 30 minutes outside of Chicago and I've been clean for half a year now. This song is about the experience of picking up. My friend was a DJ in the 90's and said the House scene was phenominal, which probably had to do alot with drugs, mainly Heroin. I'd be willing to bet all the money I have thats what Moby is talking about. In the beggining of the video moby is holding a wilted sun flower rubbing his hands, obviously anxious. He moves in to kiss Gwen. Then they break off akwardly, because he's having second thoughts about the lifestyle he's leading, not because he doesnt want to. In the first verse of the chorus he talks about picking up your friends on the east side. In the video everyone gets dressed up in preperation for the glamour of the night life. Some may come some may stay refers to the fact that your inviting people to come pick up with you. The video follow's to Moby into a car surrounded by women, and a close up of Gwen in bright Flourescent light. Her pupil's are constricted(sign being under the influence) and her features are pale light. When moby talks about light moving on a screen, he's refering to the lights on the highway blur as they pass by. In the video you see a gigantic flourescent light structure in the shape of an iris. When moby say's "I watch the light come over me" you see the reflection of the flourescent Iris in his Glasses. Gwen also appears in the center of the iris, bright like she's been staring into the sun. This refers to the warmth and rush of the Heroin and again, the constriction of the eye's. After that it follows to the 2nd chorus verse, we see moby talking about the West Side(mostly drug dealing) obviously concerned and conflicted. Gwen is distanced from him on the bed, she rolls her eyes but follows him with a look of concern, because she knows he's having trouble dealing with the lie they are living (represented by the producers that keep trying to dress them up and make them look glamourous.) Then it starts to talk about the North Side (mostly college kids and yuppies) thats when the video flashes to Gwen and Moby all dressed up again. Then it starts to talk about the South Side(mostly gangbanging). We see moby's face under the Flourescent light, pupils constricted, pale, concerned look again, "hope we wont die." Riding through heaven and hell refers to when you go to pickup knowing your not safe and your worried about who's out there, but you dont care, as long as you reach that high. "Coming back and feeling so well" You got your Gear/Rig your feeling happy and satisfied because you got the drug. You reach the highway exit and bang/snort your dope, feeling satisfied and relieved again. The song mainly talks about the fakeness and duality of living the life of a drug addict. You can justify it however you want with your hollow and fake friends, you can pretend it's ok by dressing up and having a good time. Every time you go to pick up your risking your life, with hollow friends and shallow connections. Even though you can admit this, and acknowledge this and know it's wrong, you continue anyway. Because your addicted, and your life is now the drug itself. Remember the Sun Flower? between each scene it grew like pinochio's nose a reference to the lie. In my opinion the brick's represent the cheap living and apartments in downtown. When your a junkie it's about all you can afford to keep up your drug habit. Gwen isnt a good guy in this video either, she does a excellent job. She's a GF who although love's Moby has no intentions of quitting, you can see this in what she takes seriously in the video and a general lack of concern for the lifestyle, she see's it as all glamour. That's just my oppinion, I'm 95% sure this is correct though, my situation was the same. An amazing song, of your looking for anything based on a similar subject check out, "Low - Cracker, The Real Thing - Faith No More, Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers." Peace People.