I think this song is about becoming the thing you set out in life to not become at all costs.
I guess a better way to explain it, would be say, abusive fathers, who hit their children and wives. Well their Children often grow up, and have the same problems.
Children raised with Alcoholic parents a lot of times have drinking problems in their adult life.
As a kid, you say "I'm never going to lay a hand on my wife/kids" but then you just slip up and find yourself looking through your fathers eyes, doing just what he did. The same things you swore you wouldnt do.
That's my take
I think this song is about becoming the thing you set out in life to not become at all costs. I guess a better way to explain it, would be say, abusive fathers, who hit their children and wives. Well their Children often grow up, and have the same problems. Children raised with Alcoholic parents a lot of times have drinking problems in their adult life. As a kid, you say "I'm never going to lay a hand on my wife/kids" but then you just slip up and find yourself looking through your fathers eyes, doing just what he did. The same things you swore you wouldnt do. That's my take