Pepper

I accidentally flagged you instead of replying (I do that sometimes), but you're a winner dude. I was starting to see what all the people above you were saying, but then I saw this and said, "Here we go, this guy know's his shit." Sometimes things are as simple as they first seem.

ahh the drug interpretation people always do this... you have tunnel-vision that addresses only the drug-suggestive parts of the song. And I'm not saying you're wrong - in fact, I agree with you, I think that those lines you quoted do in fact point to heroin - but just saying that isn't interpreting the song. You're leaving out quite a few important lies, like the entire rest of the chorus.

I think this song describes a lot of self-destructive behaviors (of which heroin is only one), because all of the people described died in different ways, none of which explicitly involved heroin.

I think, rather than simply representing drug use, "drinking from a fountain" represents risk-taking and pleasure-seeking that's pretty much certain to lead to an early grave.

@Ribbity Very nice interpretation! why not drugs ...why not the sweet sugary taste and smell? yeah that can be ...and a lot more can be true as well! just get the kick out of it Panther99 dude!

@Ribbity

Junkies? How many have you met?

@Ribbity I thought this comment was gonna be one of those people that thinks that every song is about heroine but you actually know your stuff. I think that your comment was probably the best one on this song. I am completely convinced now, thanks for the knowledge about heroine.

@Ribbity I think they are talking about opiates like in pill form (percocet, oxycodon, etc) because heroin actually smells more like vinegar, whereas the opiates smell sweet & reportedly smell like marshmallows

YES! But it's good.

@EnglishThinker That's a good interpretation. I get the same impression.

@Czechxican
You're right, every one of the things listed in excess eventually leads to death.
"Heroin, casual sex, fighting, drinking, and driving when done in a reckless manner are all enjoyable but inevitably lead to tragedy."

I can taste you on my lips and smell you in my clothes (as stated above in another comment, this is the wreak of sugar that an addict dabbling in heroin or opiates)
Cinnamon and sugary and softly spoken lies
-Drug abuse leads to addiction and eventually to an overdose. I like to think that softly spoken lies are the one of an addict consoling a loved one, promising to get better and not hurt them anymore. This, of course, is not the case and when the addict is alone again, they'll fall back into their dark despair as they shoot up once more for a high that will make them forget about their misdeeds. It's a vicious cycle.

Mikey got with (sexual innuendo) Sharon, Sharon got Cherie
She was sharin' Sharon's outlook on the topic of disease (sexually transmitted disease)
-Casual sex raises the risk of an STD, (something else mentioned in those first two lyrics of the song), and if too many or the wrong one is contracted, death would be around the corner. It hurts everyone affected by it and this is in turn acknowledged by the discussion of "the topic of disease".

Another Mikey took a knife while arguing in traffic
-An excess in violent tendencies is a pretty self-explanatory way down the path to death. It not only could kill the adversary but the people around them as well.

This song is about the destructive tendancies of things in excess' effect on man, i.e. the inevitable extinguishing of a life. Most people assume after a first listen that most of the examples in the song were just about self-destruction, but I disagree. Whether that be percieved external or internal destruction, for example, the difference between a person with a fighting issue and a person with a drug abuse issue, they can both hurt those around them. Drug addicts aren't exclusively self destructive, as they have the capacity to both phsycologically and physically hurt their loved ones. Addicts tend to bring people down with them, such as people in relationships. If one is an addict and the other doesn't have the strength anymore to get them help, they eventually give in and they tragedy of life ensues once more.