No More

It seems to me that this song is talking about how he would try to find a source for his problems (arguing my case to the wee hours of the night), when in fact the source was his own attraction to sadness (rather be unhappy that's the cause of it all). He blamed everything on his stepfather, and thought that with that realisation everything would be okay (put it in your face and let the petals fall, cursing your family name). That blame was useful, it helped him give his negative feelings a focus, but it was not the real problem (That's a useful dream that pretended to explain). He's tired of trying to find someone to blame and of trying to hide his pain and the truth, but realizes it plain to see (Tired of looking sideways, but the thing's in black and white). Beautiful song.

Though I like Either/Or better, this is a good tune. One thing I notice about Elliott's unreleased stuff, it is much darker.

i think its about how someone can place a bet on supperstitions. whats the point

it's because he didn't like to release things that were too personal.

wee hours of the night, do you mean?

Not sure if I have a different version of this song but I think he says:

"That's a useful dream that pretended to explain"

and

"Superstition in the image of one I don't even beleive"

Great song...

i interpret this as him saying his depression is kind of a lie, even though it's not- i do this to myself to where i'll criticize myself for being depressed and feel it's just a thing i do to cast blame, and remain paralyzed so i don't have to function- so i can stay helpless.

"arguing his case" is all the negative thinking where he might feel he's trying to convince himself he has a reason to feel so mentally incapacitated, all the while feeling himself a farce.

He also, in my interpretation, is saying that his depression is a "useful dream" in that it allows him to be useless- it lowers one's expectations of oneself because you can blame everything on the depression instead of dealing with your situation proactively.

it isn't logical thinking, but i partake in it, and i think this is what he means.

this thinking is replicated in King's Crossing where he refers to himself as a "method actor".

Some corrections to the lyrics:

The lyrics in single quotes '...' are the corrected ones:

Tired of looking sideways With the things in black and white No more, no more Arguing my case to the wee hours of the night What for? What for? What for?

Put it in your face and let the petals fall Cursing your family name Rather being happy was the cause of it all Panicked and hateful, with nothing to blame

That's a useful dream that 'pretended to explain' No more, no more, no more

Superstition in the image of 'One I already believe' 'Easier to use 'cause I made it up' To deal with the same things

Tired of looking sideways With the things in black and white What for? What for? What for?

This is a song about someone who no longer believes the story the've been telling themselves. They've been facing one way but looking sideways for a long time. Now they are giving up on denial and putting the thing to their face.

Looking sideways also suggests some kind of middle ground. One might look sideways furtively out of the corner of their eye, but one might also look sideways in scrutiny, looking for an explanation, trying to understand, looking for a case to argue.

But the thing's in black and white. It's either/or.