Salvaging

I think this song is about someone Steven Wilson knows who is trying to salvage their life. This person lives in a lie where he pretends to be happy but he really just sort of lives, without passion and happiness. Wilson and this person assess whether or not he can be saved but "the nails have been driven". It's too late.

"What was the point of making you trust? You live in a lie, the pain in the dust." -Wilson has been trying to help him, he trusts him but it is pointless if he does nothing to himself. He lives in a lie and the pain comes from the dust, from the lack of change.

"God always shouts and you always kick, through passionless hours. Yeah you make me feel sick." -I'm pretty sure it's hours. I'm not sure about the God part but this guy is resisting help and it makes Wilson sick.

"Your secret is taught but the body rejected." Wilson reveals to the man the secret that has been destroying him but he rejects it.

"Your smile's a question but the end is expected." Every time he smiles, he is putting up a front so people must always question if he is actually happy. The end is expected because if he makes any progress (he smiles) he reverts and falls apart again.

"A truce is obtained, excuses are given." They stop fighting, Wilson is probably through dealing with this guy. He doesn't want help.

"Time to assess, now the nails have been driven. It's hard to assess, now the nails have been driven. It's time to assess, now the nails have been driven." Wilson assesses the situation. It's too late. This person has driven the nails into the proverbial coffin and buried himself. He is lost.