Depression and/or a deeper mental disorder is certainly the backdrop for this song. It seems to be a dialogue between two conflicting perspectives. As it switches from first person to third person, it seems to first sympathize with the violent, depressed figure and then alternately condemn their weakness and lack of action.
The first person character seems to be haunted by dark and potentially delusional thoughts. It’s possible it refers to James Richey or another figure like him. Richey was known to suffer from severe depression and his disappearance in 1995 is potentially attributable to suicide.
Taken in this context, ‘falling asleep’ could be an analogy for silencing one’s own political voice During Richey's time with the Manics, he was very outspoken in terms of social commentary and contributed the bulk of the band’s lyrics. Even if the disappearance was not suicide, Richey unquestionably gave up his mission of preaching societal reform when he disappeared. The third person narrator in the song expresses some outrage at the silence of the depressed figure; “How could you become another boy struck dumb?” The narrator here clearly believes that the other figure has something meaningful to say, but isn’t saying it.
The third person narrator clearly had a close intimate relationship with the depressed person; “When did you become another distant friend? Everyone who loved you stayed, waited till the end.” The narrator is disappointed that their friend gave in to the depression or mania and stopped being a meaningful contributor in the lives of their friends and loved ones.
This song tries to sympathize with the depressed/delusional figure by understanding the context of the person’s thoughts; but in the end, the overwhelming sentiment is disappointment and bitterness for having lost a meaningful voice and meaningful emotional relationship to depression and weakness. The crux of the sentiment is contained in the chorus, which is simply; “How could you…?”
Depression and/or a deeper mental disorder is certainly the backdrop for this song. It seems to be a dialogue between two conflicting perspectives. As it switches from first person to third person, it seems to first sympathize with the violent, depressed figure and then alternately condemn their weakness and lack of action. The first person character seems to be haunted by dark and potentially delusional thoughts. It’s possible it refers to James Richey or another figure like him. Richey was known to suffer from severe depression and his disappearance in 1995 is potentially attributable to suicide. Taken in this context, ‘falling asleep’ could be an analogy for silencing one’s own political voice During Richey's time with the Manics, he was very outspoken in terms of social commentary and contributed the bulk of the band’s lyrics. Even if the disappearance was not suicide, Richey unquestionably gave up his mission of preaching societal reform when he disappeared. The third person narrator in the song expresses some outrage at the silence of the depressed figure; “How could you become another boy struck dumb?” The narrator here clearly believes that the other figure has something meaningful to say, but isn’t saying it. The third person narrator clearly had a close intimate relationship with the depressed person; “When did you become another distant friend? Everyone who loved you stayed, waited till the end.” The narrator is disappointed that their friend gave in to the depression or mania and stopped being a meaningful contributor in the lives of their friends and loved ones. This song tries to sympathize with the depressed/delusional figure by understanding the context of the person’s thoughts; but in the end, the overwhelming sentiment is disappointment and bitterness for having lost a meaningful voice and meaningful emotional relationship to depression and weakness. The crux of the sentiment is contained in the chorus, which is simply; “How could you…?”