Dance Hall

Well, while avoiding my date with Plato for tonight, I might as well waste some time and see what I think this song means, seeing as so far there's been some very tentative attempts, some of the usual 'wow this guy is so good i worship him', and even some 'i am so drunk/stoned' (probably written by a sober, pimply 13 yr old).

"Well I'm giving myself another one, I have too much to say."

Having too much to say would probably suggest having too much on one's mind; therefore, he might be taking another one (i.e. another drink) to forget about all that. This is actually a theme running throughout the song. Read on!

"I'm gonna angle or telepathy cuz I don't have the words to say."

When you're drunk, and everything makes sense, but only in your head. When talking to people, it's just noise.

"Well I'm gonna act up, but not in your fuckin' play. I'll let you win the argument if things still go my way."

Not really caring what other people think at this point, just quite content regardless. Stopped really noticing what the conversation is about; rather, it's just the state he's in that he's content with, cos it's allowing him to vent his anger/frustration/whatever.

"Well I haven't had enough and I said I had my fill. The past does not exist and I'm told it never will."

He's now been hitting the bottle for a while, but still hasn't had enough. However, at this point, he's forgot about whatever was worrying him ('the past does not exist'). Furthermore, at this point, he says 'I'm told it never will' suggesting that he's quite pleased with the effect of the alcohol, and basically thinks that he will never worry about his worries anymore. Makes sense... when you're drunk, all your worries seem so far away (except, of course, when you're a type of drinker that gets depressed and starts telling everyone sob stories).

"I guess that I'm stuck here like a plant on a windowsill."

Prospects for the (immediate) future: more drinking.

"I could give myself a shot, I could give myself a pill."

His options. Alcohol, pills, there's plenty on offer for people wanting to escape it all temporarily.

"I'm gonna go and try to buy a little more time to kill."

Personally, this is my favorite line of the song. Basically describes what all this alcohol and drugs is all about. You're spending money to waste time, basically. It's like he's saying that little productive really happens while drunk/stoned, in which he's got a point. When you go out and get wasted, you're basically paying to waste your time. On the other hand, it seems to be a good outlet for one's frustrations, though - he definately likes it (not sure how he'll like it come the following morning though).

"I need a can opener, cuz I got some beans to spill."

When you get all philosophical when drunk/stoned. Hopefully he's talking to someone else who's in a similar state, or else things might be a bit awkward when he meets up with whoever he's talking to at some later point, when he's sober again.

"Well somehow or another I fell for every scam. But I was dancin' on the tin roof, cat be damned. Committing crimes running down the alley. I am the captain and you are in the galley!"

Interspersed seem to be actual lamentations (falling for scams, committing crimes), while he also is obviously a bit out of it (dancing on tin roof? cat be damned? im the captain, youre in the galley?). This is the philosophical stage I was just talking about.

"I'm gonna Dance Hall dance all night long right now!"

In a live performance, this would be where he's chug down a beer or something! ;) Oh, and the repeated part about going dancing, in this (my) interpretation obviously means going out and getting wasted.

Anyway, that's my $0.02. Please tell me what you guys think, I haven't done any literary analysis since finals 3 years ago!