This is by far one of my favorite Frusciante songs. I hear it and I feel complete raw emotion. It's like listening to a dejected soul finally shattering. I don't know why, but let me try to explain.
First off, the song opens up with these misty sounds, but I hear them as sighs, instead. It's like John is taking a deep breath and bracing himself. For me, this song is about growing old and losing touch with yourself. "Hit in the face when you open a door" should not be interpreted literally, but more like when opportunity knocks, your plans blow up in your face for whatever reason. The next lines "Unconsiderate... to you" are about falling into disrepair, neglecting yourself. Without proper care, all instruments fade out of tune. By the end of the first verse, I think about how older people are "let go" in the workplace and replaced by younger workers. "Fired by an unknown eye" might reflect this view. The second verse makes me sad. It is socially accepted and expected that men act strong, if even in facade. He wasn't supposed to cry, but now things are changing. He knows that "becoming mature" really means that he is going to die. He looks in the mirror and sees an old, changed face, no longer the young spirit inside. In the next verse, I interpret the lyrics as a social metaphor. How many times have we been ashamed of ourselves, hiding from others, from social atmosphere and jokes because we were unsure? Our emotions run every which way at once, and we cannot assume anything to be true. It is sad. In the last verse, I truly feel that the lyrics should be "Time doesn't crawl back to where it doesn't show." Although I know this to be mistaken, I feel that it is much more poignant. Time is cruel and relentless. It never hides its face. When in groups with friends, sometimes comments are made such as, "Oh, look at Debbie, she hasn't changed at all since high school!" But John feels that no one ever refers to him in this context. He has changed. He has grown and matured, and he is not sure if he is adjusted to that change yet. For the ending makes this clear: "The face in the mirror is not me." He doesn't know who he is anymore.
This is just my skewed interpretation. Feel free to comment on it.
@sweetfatality7 Great inerpretation... never heard it like that... but as far as your struggle with Time does a crawl back to where it doesn't show " line, maybe he means that time passes and it's gone... moment is over...
@sweetfatality7 Great inerpretation... never heard it like that... but as far as your struggle with Time does a crawl back to where it doesn't show " line, maybe he means that time passes and it's gone... moment is over...
This is by far one of my favorite Frusciante songs. I hear it and I feel complete raw emotion. It's like listening to a dejected soul finally shattering. I don't know why, but let me try to explain. First off, the song opens up with these misty sounds, but I hear them as sighs, instead. It's like John is taking a deep breath and bracing himself. For me, this song is about growing old and losing touch with yourself. "Hit in the face when you open a door" should not be interpreted literally, but more like when opportunity knocks, your plans blow up in your face for whatever reason. The next lines "Unconsiderate... to you" are about falling into disrepair, neglecting yourself. Without proper care, all instruments fade out of tune. By the end of the first verse, I think about how older people are "let go" in the workplace and replaced by younger workers. "Fired by an unknown eye" might reflect this view. The second verse makes me sad. It is socially accepted and expected that men act strong, if even in facade. He wasn't supposed to cry, but now things are changing. He knows that "becoming mature" really means that he is going to die. He looks in the mirror and sees an old, changed face, no longer the young spirit inside. In the next verse, I interpret the lyrics as a social metaphor. How many times have we been ashamed of ourselves, hiding from others, from social atmosphere and jokes because we were unsure? Our emotions run every which way at once, and we cannot assume anything to be true. It is sad. In the last verse, I truly feel that the lyrics should be "Time doesn't crawl back to where it doesn't show." Although I know this to be mistaken, I feel that it is much more poignant. Time is cruel and relentless. It never hides its face. When in groups with friends, sometimes comments are made such as, "Oh, look at Debbie, she hasn't changed at all since high school!" But John feels that no one ever refers to him in this context. He has changed. He has grown and matured, and he is not sure if he is adjusted to that change yet. For the ending makes this clear: "The face in the mirror is not me." He doesn't know who he is anymore. This is just my skewed interpretation. Feel free to comment on it.
@sweetfatality7 Great inerpretation... never heard it like that... but as far as your struggle with Time does a crawl back to where it doesn't show " line, maybe he means that time passes and it's gone... moment is over...
@sweetfatality7 Great inerpretation... never heard it like that... but as far as your struggle with Time does a crawl back to where it doesn't show " line, maybe he means that time passes and it's gone... moment is over...