It's true that this song was dedicated to Paul, but it has even deeper meaning to me even beyond the obvious.
Gary Numan wrestles often with the fact that he does not believe in God. His best friend dying obviously hit him hard and he had to come to grips with the fact, in his point of view, that Paul didn't move on to a "better place". He would never again have the opportunity to talk to him. Find out why he did the things he did, tell him how he felt about him or say goodbye in person.
It conveys the sorrow of a person who sees death as an Ultimate End, with no further opportunities for communication or redemption. Also the frustration at other's mistaken (again, his POV) beliefs that there is an afterlife. I love the line "Some games are hard to lose" meaning (to me) that the belief in God is a convenient crutch to so many people and then "But you don't have to play" -- belief in God is not a requisite thing, like so many seem to think it is.
Finally, "You let your heart slip away" feels to me like a parting shot at his old friend for giving in to his demons and submitting to death.
It's true that this song was dedicated to Paul, but it has even deeper meaning to me even beyond the obvious.
Gary Numan wrestles often with the fact that he does not believe in God. His best friend dying obviously hit him hard and he had to come to grips with the fact, in his point of view, that Paul didn't move on to a "better place". He would never again have the opportunity to talk to him. Find out why he did the things he did, tell him how he felt about him or say goodbye in person.
It conveys the sorrow of a person who sees death as an Ultimate End, with no further opportunities for communication or redemption. Also the frustration at other's mistaken (again, his POV) beliefs that there is an afterlife. I love the line "Some games are hard to lose" meaning (to me) that the belief in God is a convenient crutch to so many people and then "But you don't have to play" -- belief in God is not a requisite thing, like so many seem to think it is.
Finally, "You let your heart slip away" feels to me like a parting shot at his old friend for giving in to his demons and submitting to death.