The Frayed Ends of Sanity

gotta love that wizzard of oz intro

This song embodies the strife of living with schizophrenia a disorder that causes paranoia fictional realities indistinguishable by the mind hetfield goes as far as to mention most of the symptoms throughout the track.

black sabbath inspired?

I think this song is about the fear of relapse into a drug problem. "Old habits reappear....fighting the fear of fear" (thats a reference to relapse) then the paranoia "growing conspiracy..." that is the outcome of the use. "Triggered Again...Now the candle burns at both ends"....that is a meth reference.

i think that it that its about someone who's so afraid of failure that they believe that everyone is out to get them and in reality they are sabotaging themselves but they realize this when its too late explaining the shift from everyone to myself and upon realizing this the person goes insane which is why you hear laughter at the end

The song is about crazy people with disorders "Twisting under schizophrenia"

Schizophrenia-is a collection of related psychiatric disorders of unknown etiology that follow a specific pattern of behavior. Typical behavior seen in schizophrenia includes psychotic episodes in which there is a severe mental disturbance and perceptions of reality are distorted. Psychotic episodes may also involve hallucinations. Schizophrenics often have delusions about personal identity, immediate surroundings or society, and paranoia. Schizophrenia has a component of heredity, but many factors other than genetics are involved. Schizophrenia is treated with antipsychotic medication.(definition)

I personally think it is not about insanity, but a close cousin, paranoia. Perhaps its about someone who entered witness protection and is paranoid and fearful for the criminal after him.

"Fighting the Fear of Fear" -Paranoid fear of the criminal "Growing Conspiracy"- Conspiracy and paranoia are linked. "Everyone's after Me"- His paranoia makes him trust no one, hes jumpy and is suspecting of everyone.

Of coarse, insanity might(more than likely) be the main plot, but just posting my opinion.

Well I know the song is in reference to loss of mind and sanity. But!! I think it would make a kick ass were-wolf song! I mean think about it for just a moment. Never Hunger.Never Prosper.I Have Fallen Prey to Failure.Struggle WithinTriggered Again.Now the Candle Burns at Both Ends. Could be used as reference for The constant battle with the beast inside you for mental control and losing to the animal inside. Twisting under Schizophrenia.Falling Deep into Dementia. Would be how the world would see you if you ever talked about it...or maybe even how you felt about yourself for dealing with it. Old Habits Reappear- could be drinking or drug abuse to cease the beast Fighting the Fear of Fear - the fact you are a monster inside Growing Conspiracy - no really knowing much about yourself Everyone's after Me - everyone wants to know "whats the matter" all the time Frayed Ends of Sanity - How your life would feel everyday... Hear Them Calling- Them could be a referal to the spirits Hear Them Calling Me - as above but more direct Birth of Terror - actually changing and doing something regretible Death of Much More - Killing or otherwise harming people or things. And then learning of it would kill you on the inside. I'm the Slave of Fear,my Captore - Knowing that the beast spirit deep within you is making you do horrid things but you can't escape it. I could go on but I am sure whom ever reads this will think me crazy enough as is...But remember!! Black album they did write Of Wolf and Man ^_^ I have a VERY weird outlook on songs and meanings...Just thought I would share my wierd out look on their song...No MATTER what it really means I will always love it.

I believe that it is about not just declining into ones own shell of paranoia, but victim mentality and escapism (to an extent) as the cause of this. one line in particular kinda points out this tone for me, "I have fallen prey to failure." The use of the word 'prey', rather than describing himself as a failure, implies that his deteriorating mental state is caused by being targeted by failure he thinks is not his fault, hes even full out blaming his condition on someone else, be that an alternate personality, or 'voices' (twisting under schizophrenia) but somewhat coming to realize this by the end of the song. (myself is after me)

Two interpretations for me.

We all get those times in out lives where the world just won't leave us alone, the boss that demands progress, parents demanding you live a certain way, even the guy in the store losing his patience 'cos you can't find the right change to pay, it all builds up and up to a point where every tiny thing seems like a personsal attack on your sanity and you wonder why you're the only one of the planet that is under this weight.

There's also the alternative for me that it's something to do with whistleblowers in governments and corporations. Where you want to say something about some terrible injustice that's happening but why are you the only one who see's it? Why is everyone else ignoring it? If you say something they'll spread lies about you, try to tell everyone else you're going mad and you need to be put back in your place. Still you won't let it go but you don't know who to trust anymore and that inner struggle to do the right thing in the face of everyone else telling you that you're wrong.