i don't think it's as simple as one thing or the other. some people say the distorted reality is referring to a drug-filled life. others say it's all about human hypocrisy or government corruption.
my take on the distorted reality leans towards the corrupt government theme. it's like he's saying the only way to live in this world's most free country (or any democratic nation i guess) is to accept all the duplicity coming from our representative leaders by ignoring it or saying there's nothing we can do about it. thus, if you want to be free you have to play by their rules, which means giving up certain civil liberties. this perspective could also include the drug aspect. maybe he meant the only way he was able to manage living in such a fucked up world was to be fucked up on drugs all the time in order to help him forget that he didn't want to live in this kind of place. i could go on and on...
the true brilliance of smith's music is the way he uses very few words to convey his thoughts and feelings elegantly. then he manages to give nearly every verse or line a double meaning, sometimes three or four meanings. almost everytime i listen to a song i get a new message from it.
i'd try to decypher the other verses, but i'd probably be here all day. besides, i think the best part about lyrics is that we each get to interpret them in our own way. not only will smith live on through his music and our memories, but his music is alive and evolving because we don't know exactly what meaning he intended to communicate.
i don't think it's as simple as one thing or the other. some people say the distorted reality is referring to a drug-filled life. others say it's all about human hypocrisy or government corruption.
my take on the distorted reality leans towards the corrupt government theme. it's like he's saying the only way to live in this world's most free country (or any democratic nation i guess) is to accept all the duplicity coming from our representative leaders by ignoring it or saying there's nothing we can do about it. thus, if you want to be free you have to play by their rules, which means giving up certain civil liberties. this perspective could also include the drug aspect. maybe he meant the only way he was able to manage living in such a fucked up world was to be fucked up on drugs all the time in order to help him forget that he didn't want to live in this kind of place. i could go on and on...
the true brilliance of smith's music is the way he uses very few words to convey his thoughts and feelings elegantly. then he manages to give nearly every verse or line a double meaning, sometimes three or four meanings. almost everytime i listen to a song i get a new message from it.
i'd try to decypher the other verses, but i'd probably be here all day. besides, i think the best part about lyrics is that we each get to interpret them in our own way. not only will smith live on through his music and our memories, but his music is alive and evolving because we don't know exactly what meaning he intended to communicate.
as badge said, 'fucking brilliant.'