----He's got fasting black lungs
Made of clove splintered shardes
They're the kind that will talk
Through a weezing of coughs
And I hear him every night
In every pore
And every time he just makes me warm----
INTERPRETATION: I think the man with the bad lungs is death. The fact that he has weezing coughs and burnt lungs is detail. The song is being sung through the eyes of a dying man who is willing to accept his fate (gets a warm feeling).
----Some of you guys refer to the man with black lungs as an actual human being, but then when it comes to the second verse/bridge, you refer to him as as needle or drug. It doesn't make sense. I'm almost certain Cedric and Omar are referring to the same 'being' in those verses.----
Freeze without an answer
Free from all the shame
Must I hide?
Cause I'll never
Never sleep alone
INTERPRETATION: Here, he has no response to the presence of death. He knows that death will be his only salvation and freedom from shame. When he says "Must I hide?" I feel like he pulls some sarcasm on himself because he knows death is there beside him as he sleeps.
Look at how they flock to him
From an isle of open sores
He knows that the taste is such
Such to die for
INTERPRETATION: I feel like this verse is a dream or flashback ("Look at.."). I feel like "they" are prostitutes or maybe addicts but I'm sure "him" is the narrator/singer. Sores can be a type of STD or affect of taking a needle. Now this "taste" is either drug or lust.
And I hear him every night
On every street
The scales that do slither
Deliver me from…
Freeze without an answer
Free from all the shame
Then I'll hide
Cause I'll never
Never sleep alone
INTERPRETATION: Here is the narrator/singer in his bed again. He knows his death will occur at any moment, and he hears him creeping and "slithering" throughout his day. Him knowing that he WILL IN FACT DIE delivers him from any type of "freeze without an answer" and will free him from his embarrassment/shame. I honestly don't know what he means when he says "THEN I'll hide." Maybe his death will be his haven? His best hiding place? ... Don't know.
Oh lord
Said I'm bloodshot for sure
Pale runs the ghost
Swollen on the shore
Everynight
in every pore
The scales that do slither
Deliver me from…
INTERPRETATION: Finally the narrator dies. "Oh Lord! I'm bloodshot for sure!" -- His eyes bloodshot from pain. "Pale runs the ghost swollen on the shore!" -- My favorite line of the entire song.. only because i have no idea of what it could mean. :/ Any ideas will be great.
Freeze without an answer
Free from all the shame
Then I'll hide
Cause I'll never
Never sleep alone
Freeze without an answer
Free from all the shame
Let me die
Cause I'll never
Never sleep alone
INTERPRETATION: The narrator finally meets his demise.
I've listened to this song 20 30 40 times.. One of my favorites. :) If you read this thanks for taking in a different perspective. I think all of your interpretations are good.. just make sure they make sense!
"Finally the narrator dies. "Oh Lord! I'm bloodshot for sure!" -- His eyes bloodshot from pain. "Pale runs the ghost -- swollen on the shore!" "
Not sure the eyes get bloodshot from pain, they dialate from it. I'll do my best with 'Pale runs the ghost" and "swollen on the shore."
I think the song is straight about dealers and herion use, and the "He" at the first and second verse is the dealer.
Up until now, he had been loathing the dealer, trying to stay clean. He looks at the reality of the situation through clean eyes: A disgusting dealer,...
"Finally the narrator dies. "Oh Lord! I'm bloodshot for sure!" -- His eyes bloodshot from pain. "Pale runs the ghost -- swollen on the shore!" "
Not sure the eyes get bloodshot from pain, they dialate from it. I'll do my best with 'Pale runs the ghost" and "swollen on the shore."
I think the song is straight about dealers and herion use, and the "He" at the first and second verse is the dealer.
Up until now, he had been loathing the dealer, trying to stay clean. He looks at the reality of the situation through clean eyes: A disgusting dealer, and even more disgusting addicts. But, eventually he gives in for the taste that's worth dying for. He shot up blodshot for sure. Remember the "isle of open sores" line? Now he is "swollen on the shore!" As for "pale runs the ghost" - The ghost of his clean self is pale again, because once again It is just a ghost. At the end he cries out "let me die! 'Cause I'll never, never sleep alooooone...." He never sleeps alone because heroin is with him, within him.
He's relegating his fate to the drug; That he will always use. Rather than continue this circle of freeing himself from shame and looking for answers that never come by using, coming down and remembering the shame, then using again... He pleads to whomever to just let him die, as using will likely bring this ultimate fate.
--
To me, this is the only way that the line 'Swollen on the shore' fits, when paired with that isle of open sores one. I also agree that this is an amazing song, and one of my favorites. Tough to sing.. but a favorite of mine.
"Finally the narrator dies. "Oh Lord! I'm bloodshot for sure!" -- His eyes bloodshot from pain. "Pale runs the ghost -- swollen on the shore!" "
Not sure the eyes get bloodshot from pain, they dialate from it. I'll do my best with 'Pale runs the ghost" and "swollen on the shore."
I think the song is straight about dealers and herion use, and the "He" at the first and second verse is the dealer.
Up until now, he had been loathing the dealer, trying to stay clean. He looks at the reality of the situation through clean eyes: A disgusting dealer,...
"Finally the narrator dies. "Oh Lord! I'm bloodshot for sure!" -- His eyes bloodshot from pain. "Pale runs the ghost -- swollen on the shore!" "
Not sure the eyes get bloodshot from pain, they dialate from it. I'll do my best with 'Pale runs the ghost" and "swollen on the shore."
I think the song is straight about dealers and herion use, and the "He" at the first and second verse is the dealer.
Up until now, he had been loathing the dealer, trying to stay clean. He looks at the reality of the situation through clean eyes: A disgusting dealer, and even more disgusting addicts. But in the third verse, he eventually he gives in for the taste that's worth dying for. He shot up blodshot for sure. Remember the "isle of open sores" line? Now he is "swollen on the shore!" As for "pale runs the ghost" - The ghost of his clean self is pale again, because once again It is just a ghost. At the end he cries out "let me die! 'Cause I'll never, never sleep alooooone...." He never sleeps alone because heroin is with him, within him.
He's relegating his fate to the drug; That he will always use. Rather than continue this circle of freeing himself from shame and looking for answers that never come by using, coming down and remembering the shame, then using again... He pleads to whomever to just let him die, as using will likely bring this ultimate fate.
--
To me, this is the only way that the line 'Swollen on the shore' fits, when paired with that isle of open sores one. I also agree that this is an amazing song, and one of my favorites. Tough to sing.. but a favorite of mine.
@DTee it's 2022 andi just heard this song for the very first time, as a cover from Stirling R Jackson on yt. I've yet to hear the original group, but i will... I loved your interpretation and just wanted to stop and thank you, years later, for taking the time- lots of time! - to share with us/me! Mind blowing thoughts. Hoping you are doing well. Blessings. Chris
@DTee it's 2022 andi just heard this song for the very first time, as a cover from Stirling R Jackson on yt. I've yet to hear the original group, but i will... I loved your interpretation and just wanted to stop and thank you, years later, for taking the time- lots of time! - to share with us/me! Mind blowing thoughts. Hoping you are doing well. Blessings. Chris
----He's got fasting black lungs Made of clove splintered shardes They're the kind that will talk Through a weezing of coughs
And I hear him every night In every pore And every time he just makes me warm----
INTERPRETATION: I think the man with the bad lungs is death. The fact that he has weezing coughs and burnt lungs is detail. The song is being sung through the eyes of a dying man who is willing to accept his fate (gets a warm feeling).
----Some of you guys refer to the man with black lungs as an actual human being, but then when it comes to the second verse/bridge, you refer to him as as needle or drug. It doesn't make sense. I'm almost certain Cedric and Omar are referring to the same 'being' in those verses.----
Freeze without an answer Free from all the shame Must I hide? Cause I'll never Never sleep alone
INTERPRETATION: Here, he has no response to the presence of death. He knows that death will be his only salvation and freedom from shame. When he says "Must I hide?" I feel like he pulls some sarcasm on himself because he knows death is there beside him as he sleeps.
Look at how they flock to him From an isle of open sores He knows that the taste is such Such to die for
INTERPRETATION: I feel like this verse is a dream or flashback ("Look at.."). I feel like "they" are prostitutes or maybe addicts but I'm sure "him" is the narrator/singer. Sores can be a type of STD or affect of taking a needle. Now this "taste" is either drug or lust.
And I hear him every night On every street The scales that do slither Deliver me from… Freeze without an answer Free from all the shame Then I'll hide Cause I'll never Never sleep alone
INTERPRETATION: Here is the narrator/singer in his bed again. He knows his death will occur at any moment, and he hears him creeping and "slithering" throughout his day. Him knowing that he WILL IN FACT DIE delivers him from any type of "freeze without an answer" and will free him from his embarrassment/shame. I honestly don't know what he means when he says "THEN I'll hide." Maybe his death will be his haven? His best hiding place? ... Don't know.
Oh lord Said I'm bloodshot for sure Pale runs the ghost Swollen on the shore
Everynight in every pore The scales that do slither Deliver me from…
INTERPRETATION: Finally the narrator dies. "Oh Lord! I'm bloodshot for sure!" -- His eyes bloodshot from pain. "Pale runs the ghost swollen on the shore!" -- My favorite line of the entire song.. only because i have no idea of what it could mean. :/ Any ideas will be great.
Freeze without an answer Free from all the shame Then I'll hide Cause I'll never Never sleep alone
Freeze without an answer Free from all the shame Let me die Cause I'll never Never sleep alone
INTERPRETATION: The narrator finally meets his demise.
I've listened to this song 20 30 40 times.. One of my favorites. :) If you read this thanks for taking in a different perspective. I think all of your interpretations are good.. just make sure they make sense!
"Finally the narrator dies. "Oh Lord! I'm bloodshot for sure!" -- His eyes bloodshot from pain. "Pale runs the ghost -- swollen on the shore!" " Not sure the eyes get bloodshot from pain, they dialate from it. I'll do my best with 'Pale runs the ghost" and "swollen on the shore." I think the song is straight about dealers and herion use, and the "He" at the first and second verse is the dealer. Up until now, he had been loathing the dealer, trying to stay clean. He looks at the reality of the situation through clean eyes: A disgusting dealer,...
"Finally the narrator dies. "Oh Lord! I'm bloodshot for sure!" -- His eyes bloodshot from pain. "Pale runs the ghost -- swollen on the shore!" " Not sure the eyes get bloodshot from pain, they dialate from it. I'll do my best with 'Pale runs the ghost" and "swollen on the shore." I think the song is straight about dealers and herion use, and the "He" at the first and second verse is the dealer. Up until now, he had been loathing the dealer, trying to stay clean. He looks at the reality of the situation through clean eyes: A disgusting dealer, and even more disgusting addicts. But, eventually he gives in for the taste that's worth dying for. He shot up blodshot for sure. Remember the "isle of open sores" line? Now he is "swollen on the shore!" As for "pale runs the ghost" - The ghost of his clean self is pale again, because once again It is just a ghost. At the end he cries out "let me die! 'Cause I'll never, never sleep alooooone...." He never sleeps alone because heroin is with him, within him.
He's relegating his fate to the drug; That he will always use. Rather than continue this circle of freeing himself from shame and looking for answers that never come by using, coming down and remembering the shame, then using again... He pleads to whomever to just let him die, as using will likely bring this ultimate fate.
-- To me, this is the only way that the line 'Swollen on the shore' fits, when paired with that isle of open sores one. I also agree that this is an amazing song, and one of my favorites. Tough to sing.. but a favorite of mine.
"Finally the narrator dies. "Oh Lord! I'm bloodshot for sure!" -- His eyes bloodshot from pain. "Pale runs the ghost -- swollen on the shore!" " Not sure the eyes get bloodshot from pain, they dialate from it. I'll do my best with 'Pale runs the ghost" and "swollen on the shore." I think the song is straight about dealers and herion use, and the "He" at the first and second verse is the dealer. Up until now, he had been loathing the dealer, trying to stay clean. He looks at the reality of the situation through clean eyes: A disgusting dealer,...
"Finally the narrator dies. "Oh Lord! I'm bloodshot for sure!" -- His eyes bloodshot from pain. "Pale runs the ghost -- swollen on the shore!" " Not sure the eyes get bloodshot from pain, they dialate from it. I'll do my best with 'Pale runs the ghost" and "swollen on the shore." I think the song is straight about dealers and herion use, and the "He" at the first and second verse is the dealer. Up until now, he had been loathing the dealer, trying to stay clean. He looks at the reality of the situation through clean eyes: A disgusting dealer, and even more disgusting addicts. But in the third verse, he eventually he gives in for the taste that's worth dying for. He shot up blodshot for sure. Remember the "isle of open sores" line? Now he is "swollen on the shore!" As for "pale runs the ghost" - The ghost of his clean self is pale again, because once again It is just a ghost. At the end he cries out "let me die! 'Cause I'll never, never sleep alooooone...." He never sleeps alone because heroin is with him, within him.
He's relegating his fate to the drug; That he will always use. Rather than continue this circle of freeing himself from shame and looking for answers that never come by using, coming down and remembering the shame, then using again... He pleads to whomever to just let him die, as using will likely bring this ultimate fate.
-- To me, this is the only way that the line 'Swollen on the shore' fits, when paired with that isle of open sores one. I also agree that this is an amazing song, and one of my favorites. Tough to sing.. but a favorite of mine.
Damn, was hoping the fact it put my entire post back in the reply box meant I could edit it... instead I double posted. Sorry about that.
Damn, was hoping the fact it put my entire post back in the reply box meant I could edit it... instead I double posted. Sorry about that.
@DTee it's 2022 andi just heard this song for the very first time, as a cover from Stirling R Jackson on yt. I've yet to hear the original group, but i will... I loved your interpretation and just wanted to stop and thank you, years later, for taking the time- lots of time! - to share with us/me! Mind blowing thoughts. Hoping you are doing well. Blessings. Chris
@DTee it's 2022 andi just heard this song for the very first time, as a cover from Stirling R Jackson on yt. I've yet to hear the original group, but i will... I loved your interpretation and just wanted to stop and thank you, years later, for taking the time- lots of time! - to share with us/me! Mind blowing thoughts. Hoping you are doing well. Blessings. Chris