Birds Of Prey

It seems like she is talking about hanging and trying to fit in with a crowd that doesn't give a sh*t about anyone but themselves. They are out to devour anyone who they think is weaker than them, hence, "birds of prey."

You think they are great at first-- "you only see what you want."

But then you realize they don't care about you and they just take advantage of you-- "they bite as you bleed."

Maybe? That's my interpretation of it.

This song has several meanings for me, I do agree with the take that it's about peer pressure.

More in depth, it's about experiencing something that we perceive as immoral, while the song tells that it only depends on your perspective, because in essence ={Slipping and falling through the looking glass--living it instead of observing-- Catching a glimpse at all that lies behind the masks--seeing the realness behind appearances--} the experience is amoral, just like instincts. This song gives me a feel of sin, and also animal tendencies (not related to spirit), thus carnal impulses.

It makes me think of vultures. (This actually happened.) A vulture will sense a dying creature and it will shadow it, and jump at it at its weakest or mortal phase. Even if it is a child. (search: African+child+vulture+photo) {They watch, feed, take what they need, bite as you bleed}

I also see it as a metaphor for real people such as people among the peer pressure, and even inner demons such as tendencies that drive us to indulge uncontrollably but I don't want too go spiritual, because it's a bit more far fetched. There are people who can cause us to self destruct, and these can also be our birds of prey.

The blue pill allows us to remain in our default stage--being of innocence, discontent, or whatever. The red pill is the pill of "hyper" consciousness. It frees you from remorse or morality, you're disconnected to your solid lines between right and wrong, just like the drunker some people get, the blurrier their reasoning becomes. So you start acting more by impulses {you only see what you want}.

In conclusion, the abstract lyrics make me think of the birds of prey as vultures, peer pressure, narcotics (being under the influence--alcohol included), and simply doing something that is extremely out of your element be it excessive laziness, pleasuring activities, or means to an end (fame, fortune, etc...).

I think this song has a very spiritual vibe to it. The birds of prey are people who can manipulate, control, and prey on you. When you're with them, you are blinded and only see what you want to see, there is no right or wrong, things are blurred. This song has a few occult/MK Ultra themes to it mentioning being lost in a fantasty, falling through the looking glass (Alice In Wonderland), masks, red pill/blue pill (Matrix - waking up to the truth of our reality). In my opinion, she wrote this song about those in control of the music industry and people of that nature. If you don't know what I'm talking about look up the occult symbols and mind control/MK Ultra themes in music (even Christina's). Look up the website Vigilant Citizen. It's a good place to start.

So pretty, I'm not sure what this is about though, making decisions- bad choices, with a bad crowd?

I think is about psychiatric disorders and their drugs, or maybe pain killers. For example "Taking the blue pill only made you cry And all that the red pill did was make you forget why" I think the blue pill are the anti-depressant and the red is for anxiety. For example the slang for barbiturates includes "reds" and are prescribed to ease anxiety or promote sleep.

"Suddenly lost inside a fantasy" maybe a pill side effect, drowsiness, euphoria and impaired judgment.

For me "birds of prey" are the self-destructive thoughts, that can appear in anxiety, depression, schizophrenia.

This is just my opinion but I get the impression is about Christina's fame and her relationship with the paparazzi, the paparazzi being the birds of prey.