Let's Hear It For Rock Bottom

The song seems to be about someone who mentally isolates themselves from a situation that can't bring themself to face. The more (he) contemplates the situation or looks for symbolic behavioral methods to remedy the situation, the more his own inability becomes apparent. The subject is conscious that his own shortcomings are only self-imposed, and cuts off his own logical self-analysis (observation) in order to further isolate himself. The repeated references to someone telling him that it's all in his head could indicate a significant other or close friend trying to talk him through it. The final refrain seems to be an indication that rock bottom has been achieved - hence he'll never say those words again, but he now has to face the outside world, and decide where to go from there.

The reference to Ivan could potentially be a reference to Ivan H. Scheier (http://e-volunteerism.com/team/scheier.php), a prominent consultant and figure for volunteerism, who advocated putting time to its best use by performing volunteer acts.

I am not a big fan of this song, but I may be able to answer who Ivan is. Ok, I think this song is about the movie "The Machinist" staring Christian Bale, which is a fantastic movie. The reason I believe this is ,if you've seen or know anything about this movie you know, that Christian Bale's character is completely wasting away, no food, no sleep. Someone keeps leaving him messages in his apartment, and he sees someone at work no one else seems to see (Ivan). Everyone keeps telling him he is crazy, but he believes what he sees. I don't want to ruin the movie for everyone who hasn't seen it, so go rent it or buy it, just see it and see if this song doesn't seem like it is about that movie.

eGG

Seems simple enough- it is about a guy who really does not care about anything and most if not all his problems are his own fault/in his own head yet he won't take any responsibility.

Who's Ivan?

and I suspect "two friends" refer to jack daniels and jim bean - sounds like a good way to hit rock bottom.

Personally, I intrerpret this song in a more positive, optimimistic life. I imagine that the song is about a person who has had a rotten experience (losing his job, for example), and though things seem bad for him, he just shrugs and thinks, "It could be worse". Hence, "Going down in flames/Well, it's not that bad".

Bearing in mind this probably wasn't how it was intended, but that's how I read it. I like thinking it's a happy song that tells us to always look on the bright side of things and how there's always something good for you.

The song is obviously about giving in to failure. It's not a "look on the brighter side of things" kind of song, even though it has a poopy beat. "Going down in flames, well it's not that bad" means that the subject has taken solace in failure, and isn't going to do anything about trying to better his situation

is it possibly about the band itself? think of it. last track on the album, no songs or albums made since. could be about them, running out of song ideas and breaking up in the future. my opinion, but offspring is awesome no matter what!!

Seriously no one see the obvious here it's a song about depression. Depressives isolate themselves knowing they are depressed isn't gonna change that hell it usually just makes it worse. If there is anything that depression strips you of most it'd be motivation you simply don't feel like doing anything including simple things like cooking something to eat don't even have the energy to complain.