Sail

ADD = ADHD. The mental disability ADHD hasn't been referred to as ADD by psychologists and/or psychiatrists for nearly 20 years. Instead they have created several branches under ADHD that, if diagnosed, you might fall under. As someone who suffers with ADHD myself (not so much the hyperactive but the inattentive side of it) I agree with StarBar that it is an intellectual disability. I also agree with madpauly that people with ADHD are sometimes smarter, more creative, and in most cases misunderstood versus what society considers "normal" people. It saddens me to say that...

ADD = ADHD. The mental disability ADHD hasn't been referred to as ADD by psychologists and/or psychiatrists for nearly 20 years. Instead they have created several branches under ADHD that, if diagnosed, you might fall under. As someone who suffers with ADHD myself (not so much the hyperactive but the inattentive side of it) I agree with StarBar that it is an intellectual disability. I also agree with madpauly that people with ADHD are sometimes smarter, more creative, and in most cases misunderstood versus what society considers "normal" people. It saddens me to say that not only do I believe StarBar's translations of each verse that he quoted are spot on, but I also feel that my life (in its own individual ways) relates to everything he stated almost verbatim. Thanks StarBar for giving me the most logical insight of this song's meaning.

Toddwsocks nailed it.

Toddwsocks nailed it.

The person who is commenting on ADD and it screwing with how one shows love is grossly overthinking it - I have ADD and its attention deficit disorder, not Asburgers or Autism. I have no problems expressing my love, nor do other folks. Now, being able to keep on task and focus when something DOESN'T interest us? Completely different story. But I'm happily married with 2 kids, and ADD tends affect the ability to hold down a job successfully more than it does expressing love.

The person who is commenting on ADD and it screwing with how one shows love is grossly overthinking it - I have ADD and its attention deficit disorder, not Asburgers or Autism. I have no problems expressing my love, nor do other folks. Now, being able to keep on task and focus when something DOESN'T interest us? Completely different story. But I'm happily married with 2 kids, and ADD tends affect the ability to hold down a job successfully more than it does expressing love.

If Kingsmalls feels how he does, he might have other issues than ADD...

If Kingsmalls feels how he does, he might have other issues than ADD (ADHD), and it might behoove him to go see a clinical psychologist to see if he suffers from chronic depression, something that would cause the symptoms he is expressing.

As a person who has ADHD I can understand what starbar is trying to say. ever since I've been diagnosed with ADHD I've been put on meds that have screwed with the way I've thought and frankly, it makes me feel like I'm not myself. ever since I've discovered what my deal was it's messed up with how I interact with people and it's made it much harder. But everyone is different and there are many different branches of ADHD/ADD. Starbar's analysis makes the most sense to me, but I also feel like the song is using it as an...

As a person who has ADHD I can understand what starbar is trying to say. ever since I've been diagnosed with ADHD I've been put on meds that have screwed with the way I've thought and frankly, it makes me feel like I'm not myself. ever since I've discovered what my deal was it's messed up with how I interact with people and it's made it much harder. But everyone is different and there are many different branches of ADHD/ADD. Starbar's analysis makes the most sense to me, but I also feel like the song is using it as an excuse like "Oh, I messed up, it's not my fault I have ADD I can't help the way I act." which is somewhat true for some people with the disorder.

I have ADHD too and StarBar nailed it in my opinion.

I have ADHD too and StarBar nailed it in my opinion.

Jvarner77. I get where you're coming from, but something that I learned in counseling is that everybody has different "love languages", ways they show and receive love. Personally I enjoy being complimented and such, but my wife could care less for the most part. She needs actions to feel loved. If you have ADHD, I'm sure you can imagine how difficult it may be to show someone you love them, when doing so encompasses not screwing up. In many relationships including mine, those seem things that you...

Jvarner77. I get where you're coming from, but something that I learned in counseling is that everybody has different "love languages", ways they show and receive love. Personally I enjoy being complimented and such, but my wife could care less for the most part. She needs actions to feel loved. If you have ADHD, I'm sure you can imagine how difficult it may be to show someone you love them, when doing so encompasses not screwing up. In many relationships including mine, those seem things that you mentioned like not being able to keep a steady job, turn into issues of love.

I being ADD, think that star bar hit the nail right on the head. The shitty part of this song is that every single part of it i am going threw on a daily basis. i have a hard timee showing love unlike "normal people' I to have a hard time listening, and keeping the things in my head.. My angel, is now my ex, who feels because of my add, i can't be dad to these kids. because i can't keep life in order, because i don't kow how to take care of kids, and because well she...

I being ADD, think that star bar hit the nail right on the head. The shitty part of this song is that every single part of it i am going threw on a daily basis. i have a hard timee showing love unlike "normal people' I to have a hard time listening, and keeping the things in my head.. My angel, is now my ex, who feels because of my add, i can't be dad to these kids. because i can't keep life in order, because i don't kow how to take care of kids, and because well she is just damn crazy in my eyes. I just want to say that starbar hit it right on the head.. and this song it hits you at home. the ones with the add, its life. we have to accecpt it.we can't change who we are, and life continues. ADD is a specail thing as well. We have allot of strengths that other people would die to have. but this song again at my time in life is the only thing that lets me breathe. its a sad song, but it has a really good meaning.

I think you are all freaking retarded!!!! What the hell! I have ADD and trust me it does NOT make me want to kill myself. Sometimes I have felt down in the dumps, and overwhelmed in life, but not because of ADD (although, yes it does add to stress sometimes) but every "normal" human feels that way at times. So let's talk about intellectual disabilities- I am an honors student graduated top 4% in my class, passed every AP test I took, including one my valedictorian couldn't pass, and she went to Harvard! Goodness gracious. ADD is an attention deficit disorder!...

I think you are all freaking retarded!!!! What the hell! I have ADD and trust me it does NOT make me want to kill myself. Sometimes I have felt down in the dumps, and overwhelmed in life, but not because of ADD (although, yes it does add to stress sometimes) but every "normal" human feels that way at times. So let's talk about intellectual disabilities- I am an honors student graduated top 4% in my class, passed every AP test I took, including one my valedictorian couldn't pass, and she went to Harvard! Goodness gracious. ADD is an attention deficit disorder! I think you are the one who has an intellectual disorder! Feeling like a different breed is probably because he feel like his mind works differently, but not retardly sure, but I promise he doesn't feel like he's inhumane because of his ADD. OH and ADD people are not callous! Sure I am right now, but still you kind of pissed me off and I'm not even like screaming or cussing. ADD people aren't mean people that can't help their reactions to people. MAYBE!!!! ADHD, but that's just cause of the hyper activity, that doesn't mean they are callous people either, and they are normal people, they don't have behavioral problems, neither do I!

***Saying blame it on my ADD is him actually offering an excuse BTW! He knows that just cause he has an issue doesn't excuse his behavior. Sometimes it would be nice to just give up and say, well I can't do it, but it's not my fault I have ADD. I know this from experience! But it's not 100% true. Sometimes you hit a wall and you can't get over it, and it's not your fault, but others times you really weren't trying. ADD medication helps you focus, but it doesn't motivate you, you still have to do that yourself! I have struggled alot because of this personally. I am also a perfectionist so when I do fail it's hard to recognize the line between what wasn't my fault and accepting it and what was, and forgiving myself and being better next time. However, none of this has gotten in the way of my relationships with people! Only school and housework. The only thing that makes relationships hard is not telling people you have ADD. Also, ADD medication is a stimulant and can be abused like anyother drug. It can deprive you of sleep if you take it at night and then all sorts of crazy side effects happen! But that's because you are abusing it! The times i felt the most out of hand, crazy I hate life I am overwhelmed I want to kill myself is when i was using the medication like a drug! That's not because I had ADD, that's because I was using a drug!!! FOOL! Any one taking drugs would feel the same! DOn't be stupid!!!! ** **

It would be very ironic if a person incapable of expressing his feelings of love being intuitive enough to find fault with that. It would mean that he does know what to say but doesn't,

It would be very ironic if a person incapable of expressing his feelings of love being intuitive enough to find fault with that. It would mean that he does know what to say but doesn't,

The Author of the song wrote it in less than 45 minutes because he has ADD. He's not assigning blame on ADD as a fault, but just as a matter of fact. He shows his love through music, made this song in his mind because of his ADD and his ability to shift his thoughts and compose. He compares his music to angels cries....

The Author of the song wrote it in less than 45 minutes because he has ADD. He's not assigning blame on ADD as a fault, but just as a matter of fact. He shows his love through music, made this song in his mind because of his ADD and his ability to shift his thoughts and compose. He compares his music to angels cries. Could have been singing but that would have been harder to rhyme. That's his own sick pride, to compare his music to angels. Of course all these thoughts are the result of his ADD. His thoughts shift through many things, cry for help or kill myself, two roads to take. why is he the way he is? is he special, a different breed, or is he simply not listening? Who cares, Blame it on his ADD Since he has ADD and now he's stuck with half a song so he cleverly spills into the La la la la la la which plays perfectly into the ADD theme whether intentional or not. I 'm not sure if the sail part is my interpretation, which is his mind drifting from one thought to the other as if he's personally sailing from one thought to the other, or I've heard the author tended to just up and leave without a word throughout his life and picked up the nickname sail.

Agree with everything in the explanation but the last bit.. I think he's saying sail because that's what he does. He ponders these things but his conclusion is the always same - blame it on his ADD and then sail right on. Spot on really; try as you might, sometimes its just not possible to behave the way people want you to exactly because you have a condition, but nothings stopping them from accepting you for who you are. If they're not prepared to do that then just sailed right on!

Agree with everything in the explanation but the last bit.. I think he's saying sail because that's what he does. He ponders these things but his conclusion is the always same - blame it on his ADD and then sail right on. Spot on really; try as you might, sometimes its just not possible to behave the way people want you to exactly because you have a condition, but nothings stopping them from accepting you for who you are. If they're not prepared to do that then just sailed right on!

Love how many are commenting on their own condition...

Love how many are commenting on their own condition as though its the only true form, all conditions such as this one have a wide spectrum/different intensities. I don't have ADD but do have OCD and can still relate to the explanation, experience the same things in many cases. And yeah lol defs not an intellectual disability XD

@StarBar are you academically trained on the human mind at all, because if so. i would like to use paragraph two from your interpretation to cover for me now whenever people....(alright, i guess they're basically only ever females), call me "callous"...(generally not ever actiually using that exact word, but it's what they mean they just have limited vocabularies) Stoked about this new info i've just acquired... i don't have ADD, i've tried snorting ritalin and it just kinda like keeps me awake. which is proof you don't have ADD btw, if you ever wanna test yourself, you just abuse the ADD medications...

@StarBar are you academically trained on the human mind at all, because if so. i would like to use paragraph two from your interpretation to cover for me now whenever people....(alright, i guess they're basically only ever females), call me "callous"...(generally not ever actiually using that exact word, but it's what they mean they just have limited vocabularies) Stoked about this new info i've just acquired... i don't have ADD, i've tried snorting ritalin and it just kinda like keeps me awake. which is proof you don't have ADD btw, if you ever wanna test yourself, you just abuse the ADD medications and if you get like all calm and stuff, you're ADD, if you get like all hyped up ready to party, you're not ADD, you're something else. But we now know-the one thing that you're not, is "callous"....so just keep your chin up! "Intellectual disabilities" It's actually kinda a politically incorrect term, sorta callous,....i think you should edit this and make it "alternatively abled in an intellectual sense from birth". then maybe add a and have at the bottom: " not a learned behavior". i mean it's kinda wrong to lump us in with the "down's syndrome people," or the "slow people" or any other way there is to be a retard for that matter! and my uncle is retarded so i'm allowed to say that, don't you jump on ur high horse just yet readers... Crazy is also a popular term people used and since someone who's crazy is insane, you can call em crazy because they ARE, and also because they're crazy and have less rights and all that. Nobody's going to listen to them...they're crazy!! NOW THAT WE'VE CLEARED THAT UP.... I want to add------>" mitch77" you're a dick for making a list of adjectives people have to adhere to if they "love" something. especially the etc, etc etc part-thanks for narrowing it down and spelling it out for us genius! To critique your reply...., Iyou nailed: "needless verbosity, pomposity, close mindedness, and general unawareness"....for that, i felt you needed to be sorted. aka told, so you can think about what you said for a little while. LOVE- it's four letters stuck together, probably going to be pretty open to interpretation...i personally feel like i'm allowed do it however it comes out. Or how the other person feels...like what if they need S&M to feel love....well that switches up ur list just a bit now does it, or did you cover that in one of ur ETCs....? I have experienced so many people in my lifetime taking the liberty of saying how other people are supposed to act emotionally. How's that work if we're all individuals? it's like emotional racism or discrimination Seriously though if we have a list of how we're supposed to act out our emotions, and all humans have to follow it, there should be a manual. mitch77 you should write one. just use like "etc" after a few random words, sell it to the "for dummies" franchise and you'll be rich. sadly there probably already is one. Well this comment sure did go south. Just sayin... "love and let love!" etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc and that people like mitch77 suck. actually i'm making the call, anybody that makes a list of demands of what you gotta do or else you don't love someone or something, doesn't deserve love. that would keep them from being all whack about not getting what they want and blaming it on other people...(i realize i guess if people adhered to that new guideline of mine, then actually it WOULD be other people's fault at that point, because it'd be intentional...but i'm leaving this all in there...because i'm intellectually disabled in the "sorta insane" way-because i think shit like that's funny). Good Morning People!!!

@StarBar It's not an intellectual disability WHATSOEVER. My IQ is 150, literally twice that of someone with an intellectual disability. I also have very severe ADHD. It was so bad that I was diagnosed with bipolar at one point, which actually led to a schizophrenia diagnosis. I grew up in an abusive household, and my ADHD was untreated throughout my teenage years. @justtosay If you have it badly enough the effects of it will make you want to kill yourself, believe me. I've been there numerous times. This song is just, extremely relatable to me. As a fellow musician, I...

@StarBar It's not an intellectual disability WHATSOEVER. My IQ is 150, literally twice that of someone with an intellectual disability. I also have very severe ADHD. It was so bad that I was diagnosed with bipolar at one point, which actually led to a schizophrenia diagnosis. I grew up in an abusive household, and my ADHD was untreated throughout my teenage years. @justtosay If you have it badly enough the effects of it will make you want to kill yourself, believe me. I've been there numerous times. This song is just, extremely relatable to me. As a fellow musician, I have the upmost respect for Aaron

@StarBar So, this is years later but your interpretation was alright I suppose. It did have some good points except for basically calling everyone with ADHD retarded. But @thelonerboner's explanation of the lyrics and @eddobson0523's explanation of 'Sail' were spot on, imo.

@StarBar So, this is years later but your interpretation was alright I suppose. It did have some good points except for basically calling everyone with ADHD retarded. But @thelonerboner's explanation of the lyrics and @eddobson0523's explanation of 'Sail' were spot on, imo.

That said, I'm not sure why @fiftyfith is so upset with @mitch77. Mitch must have either deleted a post or he went back and heavily edited the one that exists here now. And Fiftyfith, how high were you when you wrote your comment?? If women are calling you (insert word meaning callous) it's because you're acting...

That said, I'm not sure why @fiftyfith is so upset with @mitch77. Mitch must have either deleted a post or he went back and heavily edited the one that exists here now. And Fiftyfith, how high were you when you wrote your comment?? If women are calling you (insert word meaning callous) it's because you're acting like a jerk.

@What????? It wasn't me, that was @CaptSibigeu! I've snorted many things, but never ritalin lol. You're forgiven though, because I too confused whose comments who's.. And found myself thinking... Fuck man.. How high was I when I wrote this if I thought I was snorting ritalin....

@What????? It wasn't me, that was @CaptSibigeu! I've snorted many things, but never ritalin lol. You're forgiven though, because I too confused whose comments who's.. And found myself thinking... Fuck man.. How high was I when I wrote this if I thought I was snorting ritalin....

I can confirm though, the writing above that one is definitely me, 100% my writing style and language.

I can confirm though, the writing above that one is definitely me, 100% my writing style and language.

Since I'm here might as make the most of it... I also don't understand why he's so mad.. And though I can appreciate girls can easily misunderstand us at the best of times, it's not exactly fair...

Since I'm here might as make the most of it... I also don't understand why he's so mad.. And though I can appreciate girls can easily misunderstand us at the best of times, it's not exactly fair to reduce them as though they're some inferior subspecies ha.

Thoroughly enjoyed returning to this chat... Revisited "Sail" while I read

I agree with this person ^ I have ADD and it is hard to express feelings for someone. If you don't have it you wont understand, not even if you do you research. I'm kinda having this problem now. There is a girl that i love and I cant bring myself to tell here, its like that nightmare where you need to say something really important to save someone you love but your voice doesn't work. You see "PolarMeow", ADHD is different. It makes you more hyper and more out there. ADD on the other hand puts you in a shell and...

I agree with this person ^ I have ADD and it is hard to express feelings for someone. If you don't have it you wont understand, not even if you do you research. I'm kinda having this problem now. There is a girl that i love and I cant bring myself to tell here, its like that nightmare where you need to say something really important to save someone you love but your voice doesn't work. You see "PolarMeow", ADHD is different. It makes you more hyper and more out there. ADD on the other hand puts you in a shell and makes it harder to communicate. So this song is about someone who shows there love in little things that other people don't see. That's why he said "Blame it on my ADD".

@Toddwsocks I think it's about his ADHD, and that it's supposed to sound that way intentionally. People with disabilities of feel an immense amount of guilt for "blaming" their disability and that when they're disability is a cause of an action or situation they feel wrong to talk about it. If it feels weird that he's saying it so much that may be the exact stigma he's trying to point out. It also makes sense with the theme of sailing away. If he feels guilty and that he isn't justified to talk about his mental illness than than what other...

@Toddwsocks I think it's about his ADHD, and that it's supposed to sound that way intentionally. People with disabilities of feel an immense amount of guilt for "blaming" their disability and that when they're disability is a cause of an action or situation they feel wrong to talk about it. If it feels weird that he's saying it so much that may be the exact stigma he's trying to point out. It also makes sense with the theme of sailing away. If he feels guilty and that he isn't justified to talk about his mental illness than than what other choice does he have than to sail away, so that he wont hurt anyone.

Oh you poor naive girl. I hope that you have spent sometime as a teacher and realize how sad you post sounds. I am a former teacher (that felt exactly as you did) and now I am a mother of 5 beautiful children. The oldest of which suffers from ADHD and I do mean SUFFERS. This song is a clear representation of how it feels for someone to suffer from ADHD. I fought it for years and we have never choosen to medicate him. It has been a long road and we have tried our best...

Oh you poor naive girl. I hope that you have spent sometime as a teacher and realize how sad you post sounds. I am a former teacher (that felt exactly as you did) and now I am a mother of 5 beautiful children. The oldest of which suffers from ADHD and I do mean SUFFERS. This song is a clear representation of how it feels for someone to suffer from ADHD. I fought it for years and we have never choosen to medicate him. It has been a long road and we have tried our best to educate and work with teachers (like yourself) but just recently we have had to pull him out of school and home school him. NO one in their right mind would choose to live like my son lives everyday. Despite his best efforts he is unable to connect with others. Being bullied and shamed by peers and teachers alike. I am not sure if this song really addresses true ADD but it is a theme song at our house. ADD rules our house because of this one child. Luckily life has not made his angry or mean. He is a sweet boy that just functions different. None of my other children are like him. He is not lazy or stupid. I am a GOOD parent and I am not looking for an easy way out for him. I beg you to rethink your post and get to know an ADD kid as hard as it may be since they practically function completely different.

shelley100, at my [now college-age] daughter's public grade school they had a separate class filled with all students who had ADHD, some medicated and some not. I wondered at first how that teacher would handle a classroom full of busy young people with shorter attention spans but she was awesome! She tailored the class to how those children learn and their activities were short, hands-on and very interesting....and they jumped from subject to subject to keep these students participating. Those children, given the correct learning environment for their specific needs, THRIVED. It was a beautiful sight to see! I have...

shelley100, at my [now college-age] daughter's public grade school they had a separate class filled with all students who had ADHD, some medicated and some not. I wondered at first how that teacher would handle a classroom full of busy young people with shorter attention spans but she was awesome! She tailored the class to how those children learn and their activities were short, hands-on and very interesting....and they jumped from subject to subject to keep these students participating. Those children, given the correct learning environment for their specific needs, THRIVED. It was a beautiful sight to see! I have a girlfriend who chose to home-school her daughter who has Asperger Syndrome autism spectrum disorder. This student was very bright and would have benefited from a Gifted and Talented class but none were available at her rural Vermont public school. Now that child has matriculated back into public high school and is gearing up to get an Art scholarship to college. EVERY child has their particular "gift" and even the most severely impaired children have gifts for us to appreciate. Do not be discouraged. You are doing what is best for your child and you will see the benefits of your sacrifice and love for your child in the future. <3

@SarahW103 haha check out geovs20! i like this site, it made it very apparent to me that we basically just interpret songs, and life from our own experiences and beliefs...like this guy who i would bet my life savings is quite sure he's been abducted by aliens. I think this song is about Nick Diaz, the UFC fighter, and how he knocks people out...because i heard it first in a highlight reel of him...but THEN, i saw a highlight reel of Conor Macgregor using the same song and now i kinda think it's maybe about how no one even pays attention...

@SarahW103 haha check out geovs20! i like this site, it made it very apparent to me that we basically just interpret songs, and life from our own experiences and beliefs...like this guy who i would bet my life savings is quite sure he's been abducted by aliens. I think this song is about Nick Diaz, the UFC fighter, and how he knocks people out...because i heard it first in a highlight reel of him...but THEN, i saw a highlight reel of Conor Macgregor using the same song and now i kinda think it's maybe about how no one even pays attention to what's going on around them, and takes no responsibility....like the idiot who put a UFC highlight video to a song that another UFC highlight video uses.
SEE HOW I DID THAT? the german guy just sums it up in his first few lines, those germans, quite clever...but i think they tend to overcomplicate their machinery... oh maybe that's what this songs about, a marine engineer who forgot to check the oil, and the captain asked "did you check the oil?" and he said "yep" and then the captain handed him the oil dipstick and he was looking for an excuse...so he then lied some more and blamed it on his add, and then when the guy got more mad he threatened to kill himself so people would back off. And then in the end....the engine breaks, because they BOTH have add, and there was no oil....and they had to sail the rest of the way. yep...nailed it!!! Does everyone get what i'm saying here? how about relax and keep in mind only you see the world from your eyes, so there's like no actual "right or wrong" fuck, that kinda doesn't even make sense. i'm all ADD and ass-burgering...sorry. people are idiots!!!!! oh, and that was turette's syndrome. fuckin aliens gave it to me...

@Shelley100, I myself suffer from severe ADD and I personally think you have a bit of a wrong vision on ADD/ADHD. ADD doesn't mean your social skills are in some way lacking, it means that you have a hard tiem focusing on things. I, for example, took 15 minutes writing this little piece of text because I stared at the window every few seconds. I'm not on medication and have always had a good social life (although I was never that popular with teachers, though maybe my legendary stubbornness played a role as well), because all it takes is a bit...

@Shelley100, I myself suffer from severe ADD and I personally think you have a bit of a wrong vision on ADD/ADHD. ADD doesn't mean your social skills are in some way lacking, it means that you have a hard tiem focusing on things. I, for example, took 15 minutes writing this little piece of text because I stared at the window every few seconds. I'm not on medication and have always had a good social life (although I was never that popular with teachers, though maybe my legendary stubbornness played a role as well), because all it takes is a bit of extra work and a lot of self-control (which you have to learn over a very long time) to be like "normal" people. ADD isn't like autism, you have the exact same view on the world as normal people, your social skills aren't naturally lacking. I've suffered from my ADD (it's hard to keep a job when you constantly have to buy things from a store and then forget to put the change back in the register. Or forget to do all your chores. Or wash one plate per 5 minutes. After a while, it gets hard for people to believe that it were all accidents) but there are a lot of worse conditions in the world and I just can't see why someone would feel so different from other people if you have ADD or ADHD. I'm sorry if you feel different but I definitely think that way.

@SarahW103 I appreciate everyone's comments and above all, I think that @CaptSibiGeu is right in saying that when it comes down to it we interpret any kind of art subjectively and based on our own experiences. But there are a few things I want to clarify.

@SarahW103 I appreciate everyone's comments and above all, I think that @CaptSibiGeu is right in saying that when it comes down to it we interpret any kind of art subjectively and based on our own experiences. But there are a few things I want to clarify.

Firstly, I don't believe that all children are wrongly diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. I know it's a very real condition that many people suffer from, including children. But rather that it is particularly prone to misuse as a way of explaining why so many kids don't thrive in our current model of schooling, which emphasizes...

Firstly, I don't believe that all children are wrongly diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. I know it's a very real condition that many people suffer from, including children. But rather that it is particularly prone to misuse as a way of explaining why so many kids don't thrive in our current model of schooling, which emphasizes direct instruction and sees knowledge as something which can be transmitted from an adult to a child by telling them facts and having them read information.

Much like interpretation, knowledge is constructed by an individual in complex ways that are dependent upon their personal frame of reference. This frame of reference is in turn influened by individual traits, aptitudes, learning styles, interests, culture, social environment, and self-perception, which makes it very difficult to put a diverse group of people in one room, have them sit at desks facing the teacher, and expect them to soak up knowledge through lessons and lectures. This kind of passive, receiving instruction is especially difficult for people who find it hard to sit still, such as those with ADD.

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, though probably somewhat too simplistic, is a helpful framework for thinking about this. According to the theory there are the following kinds of "intelligences" or learning styles: verbal/linguistic, logical/mathematical, visual/spatial, bodily/kinesthetic, musical social/interpersonal, emotional/intrapersonal, and naturalistic. Our current form of schoooling caters for the most part to children with the first two learning styles (math and English, worksheet problems and writing essays).

Rather than being a commentary on ADD specifically, I interpret this song as addressing the larger problem of failing to provide an environment in which all types of learners can thrive.

Lastly, I don't mean to say that teachers are at fault. Having had four years pass since I wrote this interpretation, I've experienced firsthand what teachers face in the classroom, and it's a wonder that they even find the motivation to pull out the textbooks, let alone find a way to completely restructure their classroom and then take on the role of psychologist, counselor, curriculum planner, instructor, manager, behavior specialist, and community outreach advocate. Teachers and classrooms need so much more support and attention, let alone funding, than we give them. (I'm no longer teaching, the frustration and helplessness I felt overpowered the lofty ideals I have about reform and I couldn't bring myself to just "work within the system" in order to get to the part where I could "change the system").

Thanks as well to @dipanddump @RoseTeaCup1216 @PolarMeow @shelley100 @BirdHead2U @jack118178 @tigerleurlis for the thoughtful responses.

@SarahW103 Dear Future-Teacher-of-America's-Youth SarahW103, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE never forget that the root cause of it all may just be the parents abusing the child. I was the messed-up kid, the one not listening, the problem child, the "pot smoking drug addict", the criminal(I shoplifted one time), the habitual run away(they never asked WHY I ran away, they just threw me in jail)I wonder who I would have become if I was shown some understanding and some SUPPORT from my parents instead of leaving me to the state to be dealt with. I wonder where I would be if, instead of...

@SarahW103 Dear Future-Teacher-of-America's-Youth SarahW103, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE never forget that the root cause of it all may just be the parents abusing the child. I was the messed-up kid, the one not listening, the problem child, the "pot smoking drug addict", the criminal(I shoplifted one time), the habitual run away(they never asked WHY I ran away, they just threw me in jail)I wonder who I would have become if I was shown some understanding and some SUPPORT from my parents instead of leaving me to the state to be dealt with. I wonder where I would be if, instead of constantly being torn down and told that I was this or that, what if they said "It's ok to be who you are and I love you."... Man, seems so easy to me, so why was it so hard for them? Epic fail, mom and dad. And by the way... ah nevermind, wasted words now.

I have a friend who keeps INSISTING that ADD means "Alcohol & Drug Dependency" too... Pretty sure he got that idea off of this comment thread, because I can't quite find it elsewhere on the net.

I have a friend who keeps INSISTING that ADD means "Alcohol & Drug Dependency" too... Pretty sure he got that idea off of this comment thread, because I can't quite find it elsewhere on the net.

Seems there are quite a number of people would LIKE to agree to this... Mostly because it feels more relatable to them.

Seems there are quite a number of people would LIKE to agree to this... Mostly because it feels more relatable to them.

It's just something we humans like to do, we absorb music (or other forms of art) and mold it to fit our own interpretation of the emotions and vibes from the song.

It's just something we humans like to do, we absorb music (or other forms of art) and mold it to fit our own interpretation of the emotions and vibes from the song.

Like, "Oh hey, this makes more sense to...

Like, "Oh hey, this makes more sense to me, and it calls out to me more, therefore my explanation of it must be true." (It is our common shortcoming, to be so egocentric in our evaluation of things we perceive.)

BUT, it's hard to deny that wonderful feeling which comes from having something you relate to strongly, be so poetically expressed in a song. So... as much as I had the urge to correct my friend, I let him have it.

There are mainly 2 reasons why people jump on board this alternative interpretation wagon of what ADD means. 1) They are (or believe themselves to be) alcoholic/drug addicts 2) They don't really know what ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is actually about.

It's the second reason that, I have to admit, bothers me a lot... Because I think most would just write off ADD as "just some attention related thing".

I think when most people, who do not have ADD or any prior experience with it from someone close, try to picture what ADD would feel like, they just see some kid getting distracted and not paying attention in class. Hardly anything close to the 'dark' theme of this song... Right?

Wrong- It affects everything, not just school. Career, close relationships and personal well-being... Especially when you are an adult with ADHD, the frustration and blame from yourself and people close to you can become really heavy. "Why can't I even function like a normal person?... Why are there so many intense thoughts in my head?" Which is why ADD is closely linked to anxiety and depression, and even the mentioned dependency on drugs and alcohol.

...Truth is, I am bothered because I am writing this as someone who is still struggling to work with ADD as an adult.

Even then, I am aware that my stance on what the ADD in the song stands for could just be my personal bias towards the disorder... except, Aaron Bruno himself (who IS diagnosed with ADHD) has already mentioned in an interview that it is what the song's about.

Link here: http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/soundcheck/content/awolnations-aaron-bruno-talks-sail-electronic-influences-and-art-melding-genres

So, yeah, I hope this clears it up for everyone... But still, don't let it stop you from interpreting the song in the way you want to, to relate to the music, because that's your liberty to do so and it's beautiful.

Peace.

@Baubles Having had ADD all my life, I can listen to this song and feel it relates to the disability too. And no, it does not just attribute to "learning". ADD affects social, emotional, and mental extremes in far more ways than just school. ADD can cause severe depression, hence the "Maybe I should cry for help or kill myself" line. I have ADD, and no I don't do drugs or drink. I've always had suicidal thoughts, and the people I would want to go to for help (parents, family, friends) don't or can't understand the struggles. Maybe you should...

@Baubles Having had ADD all my life, I can listen to this song and feel it relates to the disability too. And no, it does not just attribute to "learning". ADD affects social, emotional, and mental extremes in far more ways than just school. ADD can cause severe depression, hence the "Maybe I should cry for help or kill myself" line. I have ADD, and no I don't do drugs or drink. I've always had suicidal thoughts, and the people I would want to go to for help (parents, family, friends) don't or can't understand the struggles. Maybe you should research ADD before taking away the meaning for us afflicted with the mental illness. It does cause emotional outbursts, strain on relationships, emotional immaturity, incapability of feeling loved/wanted, subordination, to feel like a 'different breed', and shame. I recently did a speech on the topic, and this was a useful guide for me: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/add-adhd/adult-adhd-attention-deficit-disorder-and-relationships.htm The song makes perfect sense in either context.