Special K

brian molko said that he uses the high/rush/experience of a drug (special k) as a metaphor for love. basically, he's saying that falling in love is like a drug. the "achilles heel" line, which is my fave, says that love is his weakness (as would be any addictive drug). "no escaping gravity" is "falling" in love, "an the savior be for real/or are you just my seventh seal?" asks whether his love/drug will be the beginning or ending of him. powerful song, catchy tune. gets in my head all day.

"And when He broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour." Rev. 8:1

In this song his seventh seal may mean the final thing before the end. No coming back from it.

gravity no escaping gravity gravity

now listen to mr. brightside - the killers "Jealousy - turning saints into the sea " does that part not sound the same?

I am responding to this for several reasons, the first being my agreement that the song uses K as a metaphor for love, but, alas, reasons are many, and I also disagree very much with the analysis given earlier by forum user mrmoo232, who certainly in the first paragraph describes quite realistic effects of using K. I vehemently disagree, however, with how literally the rest of his or her post from almost a year ago reads. I, for one, do not think the song is a 'line for line', 'shot for shot', 'bump for bump' (if you will) comparative analogy to K. I definitely think the drug parallels are at the barest forefront of the song, but I first of all think that many things could substitute for K in Brian Molko's lyrics, and I don't necessarily think he intended this for sure when he wrote the song, although he may have, however, anyway, authorial intent is largely both relevant AND irrelevant in terms of the effect and lasting impact a song like this has on people and culture. I feel like what is important about this song is the comparison of the rush and the surge of feeling that unadulterated love gives the lover but also the deceptions and constant trials one must endure to sustain it.

'Gravity' is the inertia that with time can (but not always) turn love into avarice; can turn what once was 'coming up beyond belief' into a 'coronary thief'... a loss of the heart/head's will to ever feel something so extreme again, in a very similar way that drugs can get the user high many times but often little compares to the raw feelings and, dare I say, pure hearted expectations that love/drugs often coincide with in the beginning. That which made the heart feel the barest and strongest emotions can, when turned sour or having not met the expectations of the surely pure concept of love we all are taught since the youngest age to believe to be true, has the very real potential to destroy us in a fit of seeking (to feel real/to connect with the Real again). What once made the lover feel alive in the same turn can kill him or her, just like coke, or K can, in time, when the loved one is no longer the perfect ideal the one who loves seeks as a reason to live.

In my own imperfect opinion, it is no criticism of love or drugs, or the raw feelings AND dangers both can bring: it is a valid comparison to what true attachment can do. After all, there IS a reason the drug trade is one of the three most profitable industries in the world: people need (i would strikethrough this word if I knew how on here)... people want... that experience: it drives one to be alive. But, love can ("is")... as another musician once said... be 'suicide'... and this pursuit is what drives humans... it is libido and destruido. I love this song because I feel it expresses something innate to human nature (yes, even at a smaller level for those who think their indulgence is in check). Such is life. Human, all too human.

It's definately about an extraordinary person that this person's in love with. It's not about drugs but it's described through that metaphor. "I'll describe the way I feel You're my new Achilles heel Can this savior be for real Or are you just my seventh seal?" The person they are in love with seems to good to be true. "I'll descrie the way I feel Weeping wounds that never heal" They think this person might just be their cure but they are hesitant to believe that this person could really fix everything, yet that overwhelming feeling they get when they are around this person remains.

I thought seventh-seal was a biblical refference to questioning the existance of god (or something godlike). I'm unsure of the specifics, though.

Just to add a little meaning to the topic around "The seventh seal", there is a film by Ingmar Bergman entitled exactly like that. I strongly recommend you to watch it.

"Alot of people say this song is about alot of things.. It can be about whatever you want it to be.. But, however.. It is not about breakfast cereal.. Its about whatever you want, just not breakfast cereal"

Quote from Soundwave Festival Australia-Sydney 21/2/2010

I think it's quite obvious what this song is about.

I had my first (and probably last) ever Ketamine binge last night. And I stumbled along this sight looking for the lyrics of this song to see if I could relate to it.

Most of the lyrics definitely refer to the effects of Ketamine,

Swallowed half my stash - ingestion of the drug

No hesitation no delay - blatantly referring to how quickly it hits you

i'm on sinking sand/ no escaping gravity - definitely how you feel when you're tripping

Back with dope demand/ hit the ground/ make a heavy sound - probably reference to how quickly and suddenly the drug wears off AND it's moorish nature.

coronary thief - Ketamine does take control your heart (this IS NOT A LOVE SONG, people probably think "coronary thief" is a woman who steals your heart)

New achilles heel - I'm guessing this refers to the addiction that arises from too much Ketamine abuse.

The song ends with repeating the word 'Gravity' which could refer to a drug that's wearing off or pulling them down to hell, or someone is putting their feet back on the ground to be down to earth again.

It could either be something negative or positive depending on the interpretation of the song: Is it about love or drugs?

I consider it to be a cautionary tale because when you feel like your slipping away (sand metaphor) that's probably something bad.

And even if you fall in love, you still gotta be careful. And the protagonist is saying: I never ever wanna crash' but he feels the gravity and is threatened by it.

So he fears to come back down from 'falling in love' or being high from the drugs. It could also refer to how attracted to her he feels, which means he can't escape his feelings for her: he's hopelessly in love, but because he 'hits the ground' I'd say he's in love with someone who doesn't share his feelings. (Or it's just about drugs. Who knows)