The Gin War Lyrics

Lyric discussion by meohanian 

Cover art for The Gin War lyrics by Cassino

I think this song is about alcoholism (hence the title)and also trying to maintain a relationship while addicted to alcohol

So tell me dear where is it you go from here? As you curse and peel and pose in tears Against the wall and across the hall… Across the wards as we both dissolve

these lines give an image of a girlfriend breaking down in frustration and sadness of being with an alcoholic. obviously she wants to be with him b/c she still is, but they both know that his alcoholism is a huge obstacle in their relationship

I have this habit of punishing things That move so fast they grow out wings That sneaks through houses as we barter for sleep… (So just let me hide)

this part talks about friends that have abandoned him b/c of his addiction. it sounds as though he has either physically hurt them while drunk or emotionally hurt them by being a nondependable friend.

I wish I had you in my lungs Id blow you up…and block the sun To save everyone from this brilliant light we’ve won

i have a lot of ideas about this one, but none that fit as well as they should

And our bodies got so much clearer With dirty blood and thirty last calls So fill it up and spin forever down the wall I throw it up just to watch it fall

their relationship makes more sense when he's drunk because he is so constantly. the 3rd line describe drinking and feeling the effects. he throws it up and likes to watch it leave his system. he doesnt want to destroy their relationship with his problem.

Through the window you looked much sweeter

he looks through the window of the bar and would like to think hes going to have a fun night of drinking. when he is drinking, he realized that it is not nearly as "sweet" as he had hoped and he is, again, jeopardizing his relationship.

“Tell me something bout a lonely night” Burnt by the steam from a better life… But your lottery touch feels lucky enough Refugee hands from a gin war….

he is aware that he can live a better life, but the fact that she stays with him despite his alcoholism weakens him. he still has the most important thing to him (besides alcohol)

I know a place where we can rest tonight But when the bombs start falling... you’ve got to open your eyes And I just hope that I have mine I just hope that I have….

he knows of a bar where they can go to, but she needs to stay sober and protect him. he wants to help her do this by staying sober as well, but he cant

I wish I had one hundred thousand pounds Id crack the ground as your struggle for sound leaps From town to town to town

he wishes he had lots of money to buy more and more alcohol with. as they go from bar to bar, she tries to reason with him ("struggle for sound") but he wont listen

Share your spoken wealth Share your body’s health I need it more than I need myself I know you’ll leave with the king’s reprieve I guess that’s just fine by me

he wants her to help him and he knows he needs help. his alcoholism, though, has become too big of a problem and she finally leaves. he, thinking alcohol is the answer, believes that her leaving is okay.

Through the window you tasted much sweeter

this is an amazing line b/c i believe that the change from the word "looked" to "tasted" changes the meaning very much. now in the line, the window is referring to the line between casual and responsible drinking and alcoholism. clearly, he has crossed this line, especially since his girlfriend has now left him.

amazing song that tells a tragic story. i love it.

I think that the phrase "I have a habbit of punishing things, that move so fast they grow out wings" is him saying that he is hard on people or idea's and to counter it out they make themselves better. Kind of like someone hating on an artist and that artist taking it to fuel there endevour more so. The sneaks through houses as we barter for sleep could be his thoughts haunting him. Maybe as an artist who's experience moderate success however talented he's become bitter and isn't the most positive and encouraging person and he...