Elvis has said the song is poking fun at the artiste who sees himself as a tortured, misunderstood genius. Most of the lines are delivered by a more straightforward character, someone who sees right through him.
Elvis uses this disinterested observer to subject himself to off-the-cuff but deeply cutting self-parody: "You're not my particular poison/I've got nothing against you myself," followed by concern that the cerebral rocker's affected pose of despair could have represented a "danger to the boys and girls" who became fans. But he's fallen so far into disrepair (in both his career and personal life), he's become merely a "danger to [him]self."
Elvis has said the song is poking fun at the artiste who sees himself as a tortured, misunderstood genius. Most of the lines are delivered by a more straightforward character, someone who sees right through him.
Elvis uses this disinterested observer to subject himself to off-the-cuff but deeply cutting self-parody: "You're not my particular poison/I've got nothing against you myself," followed by concern that the cerebral rocker's affected pose of despair could have represented a "danger to the boys and girls" who became fans. But he's fallen so far into disrepair (in both his career and personal life), he's become merely a "danger to [him]self."