Ryan Adams – The Crystal Skull

General CommentI think this song is about someone, "Scarlet," who drinks too much and too often and also uses methamphetamine, often referred to as "Crystal", or at least some form of speed. The "Crystal Skull" perhaps represents the brain on speed. You could assume that Scarlet is the speaker's girlfriend. The friend of Scarlet's addressed in the first verse is alcohol. "She gets so disconnected when her glass is too full" could mean that she gets too drunk when she's on speed, and it is common knowledge that any form of amphetamine allows its user to drink more alcohol than they would normally be able to. Scarlet is described as a "fisherman who drains the ocean first and then decides." I can't speak for everyone but I have heard that drinking on speed allows you to "drink like a fish." If this is what Ryan Adams was referring to than Scarlet draining the ocean would clearly mean that she drinks too much when she's high on speed.
The fourth verse reads "Scarlet is so tired... She's been swimming for a while." This probably means that Scarlet is strung out on speed and been drinking too much, too often.
The lyric "The Crystal Skull is open all night" that appears frequently throughout the song probably refers to the fact that being high on any form of amphetamine keeps you awake all night, and sometimes, consecutive days and nights.
That's my take on the song. I'd love to read some other interpretations as I am open to other people's opinions on the the meaning of the song.

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  @GJ