Now, be free
the sky must have fallen
when I couldn't see
your life's weak strain
I take a step back
and you've fallen again
But if you'd listened
a little closer
reaching over
this cold shoulder
Oh Charlie, a boy and his toys
I see you lying stiff and cold
spread out upon the bedroom floor
kiss me darling with those
pale lips once more
hands could never comfort you
not so well as steel could do
Freak on in
did you think ths time
you would finally win
a trip of life
Repeat B section
Repeat Chorus
Reeling spinning out of lies
daisy vision in your eyes
boat is sinking someone cries
you have left me to surmise
your surprise
I always had the impression this was about a woman coming home to find her boyfriend/husband (Charlie)dead of an overdose. The OD almost certainly had to do with something like heroin, the "steel" being a needle. If you read the lyrics with this in mind, it shoudl sort itself out.
gosh this song is creepy!
I'd assumed it was an actual suicide - the steel implying a knife or razor of some sort. It doesn't really matter, I suppose. But what I like about the song is the implication, especially in the second verse, that the singer could have prevented this tragedy. If she'd been a bit clearer about her affection ("this cold shoulder"), maybe this could have been averted. On the other hand, "hands could never comfort you" - maybe it was inevitable. A shame, really.