OK, so with “Self-Employed Chemist,” what is that song about?
BRANDAN Well, what do you think when you hear “Self-Employed Chemist”?
Drugs.
BRANDAN Yeah, that’s pretty much what it is. The song’s kind of…I don’t know how far I should go into what that song’s about. [Pauses] It just basically deals with a person that I was with for a long time…one of the mothers of my kids. She struggled with addiction for eight years. And I saw her go through that. I was very much in love with her, so it comes from that. She’s just recently gotten over it, and she’s doing really well. I’m super-proud of her, and she’s been doing so amazing. I can really see a change in her. One of the lines in the song is “We’re coming back to collect that killer.” And that’s inspired by a thing she said to me when she cleaned up.
From a Revolver Interview:
OK, so with “Self-Employed Chemist,” what is that song about? BRANDAN Well, what do you think when you hear “Self-Employed Chemist”?
Drugs. BRANDAN Yeah, that’s pretty much what it is. The song’s kind of…I don’t know how far I should go into what that song’s about. [Pauses] It just basically deals with a person that I was with for a long time…one of the mothers of my kids. She struggled with addiction for eight years. And I saw her go through that. I was very much in love with her, so it comes from that. She’s just recently gotten over it, and she’s doing really well. I’m super-proud of her, and she’s been doing so amazing. I can really see a change in her. One of the lines in the song is “We’re coming back to collect that killer.” And that’s inspired by a thing she said to me when she cleaned up.