I'm Not Sorry

I get the impression this song, is not just about love but life in general, and that he used to have many aspirations and desires for the future, but non of them panned out as expected.

Any expectations he had for life have been destroyed. e.g he wanted to meet 'the woman of his dreams' but she 'never came along'.-something which he values a lot.

He is also reflecting back on his life and everything he has done, and, he has come to conclusion that life has no meaning as suggested by the lyric 'Its all a game. Existence is only a game', therefore he feels does not care about everything he has done which is why he says 'I'm not sorry'.

However, there is still a small hope someone will save him because he wants help, but he realistically knows he will be rejected: Reject my hand, And, The damage is done

I believe that this song is about mental illness, as many of his songs seem to imply or essence. In this case it can describe depression, (or certainly I relate to it in this way.)

I'm, Slipping below the water line, I'm, Slipping below the water line

The repetitions throughout the song as well indicate this, as life feels repetitive and mundane. He is slowly and gradually slipping into a new state of thoughts and feelings which are clearly, as shown by the rest of the lyrics, not positive/idealistic ones but a depressing state of mind. Depression also can feel like drowning, suffocating, trapping, as you are gradually encompassed across all aspects of life with these thoughts and feelings until it becomes a part of you and you can't remember or know what it's like to feel differently or whether you ever did. This water analogy has been seen across lots of media references, such as Hannibal (tv series), and Submarine.

The line 'Oh, when will this tired heart stop beating?' also supports this interpretation.

In regard to the last line 'There's a wild man In my head', could also indicate that the hope he wants back (the hand to save him from slipping into the water/depression) is teasing him, because he knows it will never happen yet it taunts him in his mind, reminding him of what he could have had but does not.

This ofc is just my opinion on what the song means, rather biased interpreted as well. thanks if you read!

He had this major crush on her. He thought that she was special, that she could be the one, the "woman of my dreams".

But then he found out things about her which he can't stand, which make her seem ordinary. He is getting the opinion that she is just an "anyone".

His attraction to her is fading, he is "returning".

He doesn't regret anything he did to get close to her because his intentions were good. He was serious with her but she was only playing a "game", he was only a competitor in her game.

And again his heart was beating all for nothing.

But he still has this perfet image of her in his mind, he doesn't want to believe it is not real. He doesn't see any reason in his life without it. So he gives her a last chance to rescue him from slipping "below the water line". She doesn't take it. Alle the passion and longing he feels have nowhere to go, it's the "wild man in my head".

Love this track, as someone previously mentioned it could be about him never having a woman of his dreams, but a man. Having said that, I think with Morrissey, he wouldn't make such an obvious comment, as he is always very ambiguous and secretive when it comes to sexuality, or just says he is 'everything', 'people are just sexual', or whatever.

The music is fantastic, such a good song, really emotional. I like listening to it when I'm feeling down and out over a love I cannot have, really makes me humble. Nice one Morrissey! :-)

The line about the 'wild man in my head' is referring to him being a reserved introvert whereas in his mind he is a more of an outgoing extrovert, less awkward and more comfortable with relationships. I believe he referred to this in interviews at the time of release (although not in specific relation to this song)

The line about the 'woman of my dreams, she never came along' can of course be taken in a number of ways. One being that there was never a woman, because there was a man, but the more likely being that he there was never a woman, because there was noone at all.

This song reminds me of riding in convertible w/ the top down

This is a great song, and it sounds a lot like his older material with the Smiths.

this song has a lot of meaning that create one vibe.

it's about him getting older and not having any regrets: and I'm / not sorry for for the things I've done

and also about his life is still continuing (which he likes) and there are still issues in his life and mind:

On returning I can't believe this world is still turning the pressure's on because the pleasure hasn't gone

At the same time he is struggling with sentimental issues and current life issues that never really go away:

the woman of my dreams / she she never came along the woman of my dreams / well there never was one and I'm / not sorry for for the things I've said there's a wild man in my head there's a wild man in my head

its about past and present..it's a sentimental and present time emotionally endulgent song.

also it's like he wishes he could go back and have his love of the past save him:

I'm / slipping below the water-line I'm / slipping below the water-line reach for my hand / and and the race is won reject my hand / and the damage is done

also more about current life moving forward:

On competing oh when will this tired heart stop beating? It's all a game existence is only a game

interesting thoughts, but does anyone else think the "wild" man in his head could be Wilde?

Strangely, I love the music on this one. A classic Boorer tune augmented with Morrissey's unmistakable lyrics.