I think the "completely wrong/totally wrong" is not only saying that the media's portrayals of him are inaccurate (the obvious interpretation), but also that he just hates seeing pictures of himself... he's fucked up and doesn't like all the attention on him when he's still so unfinished and vulnerable... Not just that the pictures are wrong but that HE'S all wrong and hates seeing it reflected back at him.
I think "everybody's dying just to get the disease" is saying it's weird for him to be so popular when his songs are all about horrible crippling depression... something people should never wish to know.
"Who'd like to see me down on my fucking knees" -- I think this means he knows the media would just love more ways to show how depressed he is, it's almost like they want him to get worse...
How fucked up is it that his whole fame was based on his being miserable, and that that kind of became "cool"? That's what I think this song is about... But he also gave a lot of people who were already depressed the comfort of knowing that they weren't alone. RIP Elliott.
@galaxiaad I loved reading your interpretation. Especially about the pictures just reflecting back what he actually is, and being so uncomfortable meeting it face to face. I can relate.
@galaxiaad I loved reading your interpretation. Especially about the pictures just reflecting back what he actually is, and being so uncomfortable meeting it face to face. I can relate.
I think the "completely wrong/totally wrong" is not only saying that the media's portrayals of him are inaccurate (the obvious interpretation), but also that he just hates seeing pictures of himself... he's fucked up and doesn't like all the attention on him when he's still so unfinished and vulnerable... Not just that the pictures are wrong but that HE'S all wrong and hates seeing it reflected back at him.
I think "everybody's dying just to get the disease" is saying it's weird for him to be so popular when his songs are all about horrible crippling depression... something people should never wish to know.
"Who'd like to see me down on my fucking knees" -- I think this means he knows the media would just love more ways to show how depressed he is, it's almost like they want him to get worse...
How fucked up is it that his whole fame was based on his being miserable, and that that kind of became "cool"? That's what I think this song is about... But he also gave a lot of people who were already depressed the comfort of knowing that they weren't alone. RIP Elliott.
@galaxiaad I loved reading your interpretation. Especially about the pictures just reflecting back what he actually is, and being so uncomfortable meeting it face to face. I can relate.
@galaxiaad I loved reading your interpretation. Especially about the pictures just reflecting back what he actually is, and being so uncomfortable meeting it face to face. I can relate.