Tim Booth once said that "this is a song about absolute misery, feeling entirely alone, it's about being awake at 4am and having no one to talk to" It's meant to be comforting for people in this situation, saying that they're not alone, and they'll get through it. It's a very personal song for him.
It's about the universality of bewildernment and suffering. He's saying that he's been through this, and he sympathises with all those going through it.
It's a bit like Everybody Hurts by REM, but less sappy.
One of my favourite EVER tunes.
Possibly one of my favourite songs ever. I have a very vivid memory as a young kid of hearig it on top of the pops and instantly loving it.
genius, how could anyone not like this
Well he is obviously a manic depressive, but i'd guess considering how many great song writers are (were) that could go without saying.
This song is about drugs and depression - thats what they said in an interview. Its someone rich who has spent all money on high-class drugs, lost it all and is spiralling down out of control taking so meone with him. As Morrissey put it (and a strong champion for James when they made it big in the 1980s) there is no debata - no debate.
@CharmingMan Exactly right, my friend! Clearly a Smiths fan, judging by your user name?! I was always/will be a New Order fan first & foremost (& most top Factory Records bands, like the Monday's, for example!) but adore The Stone Roses, The Smiths & what Barny & Johnny Marr created with Electronic...The Other Two also made some nice songs but Hooky's side-projects have always been a bit hit-and-miss!! Respect from "Down Under", my friend!!
@CharmingMan Exactly right, my friend! Clearly a Smiths fan, judging by your user name?! I was always/will be a New Order fan first & foremost (& most top Factory Records bands, like the Monday's, for example!) but adore The Stone Roses, The Smiths & what Barny & Johnny Marr created with Electronic...The Other Two also made some nice songs but Hooky's side-projects have always been a bit hit-and-miss!! Respect from "Down Under", my friend!!
Also: the facts behind this song are that Tim Booth, as a teenager, was feeling awful and depressed and then there were a couple of books (or was it songs? or poems?) that he read that made him feel like he wasn't going crazy, and that at least someone else knew what was going on with him. The song is really about that feeling of empathy, and "you're not alone".
Moodswings is one of Tim Booth's common threads throughout his lyrics.
It could be about many things but centers on the negativity we embrace when things don't go the way we want, expectations don't come true, things that are dear to us are no longer there. It's about change, loss, expectation, disappointment in many degrees. In the end it's empathy for just being our human selves and the lows we all get. As I wrote in reply to someone else, it's quite optimistic. Sit down next to me, we'll come through.