For me, one of the main meanings of the song is Rob Thomas's quest for his identity as a musician.
He seems to be running out of ideas and even consider using gimicks to look more "bad boy" (maybe I should try to find a downtown whore/that'll make me look hardcore), something so NOT Rob Thomas.
He is basically trying to find a new role, something to "stand for", a personal philosophy.
In the end of the song, he realizes that the show biz is almost trying to turn him into someone he doesn't want to be. He now despises all the back-stabbers that he used to call friends (such as his producer, etc; I'm guessing here).
For me, one of the main meanings of the song is Rob Thomas's quest for his identity as a musician.
He seems to be running out of ideas and even consider using gimicks to look more "bad boy" (maybe I should try to find a downtown whore/that'll make me look hardcore), something so NOT Rob Thomas.
He is basically trying to find a new role, something to "stand for", a personal philosophy.
In the end of the song, he realizes that the show biz is almost trying to turn him into someone he doesn't want to be. He now despises all the back-stabbers that he used to call friends (such as his producer, etc; I'm guessing here).