Hi guys, this is my first post here so please be kind ;)
I've just discovered this song and it's now easily one my all time favorites. I cant stop listening to it. Here's my take on it, which I believe is about depression and drug addiction... and yes I know not all of his songs are about it, but this one definitely is (in my mind).
"Here come the sidewalk boss again
Telling me how I can't cave in
That I’m a study in black
Need a pat on the back
I look up and smile
A picture of dissatisfaction"
People who don't know or understand him are are patting him on the back saying "It's all going to be ok, hang in there" and all he can do is give them a fake smile.
"That he can only see as a junkie
Though I might be straight as an arrow
He’s busy shaking hands with my monkey
Busy shaking hands with my monkey"
He believes people are just pigeon-holing him as a depressive drug addict, even when he might be straight and not on drugs, that's all they see. They're shaking hands with his 'monkey' as in a drug problem is usually called 'a monkey on your back'.
"I go in my car
Straight to the bar
Where my sweetie pours the beer
For the millions of fans ignoring the bands"
Pretty straight forward and literal in my opinion.
"He’s in my ear
Wants me to live in denial
Says, 'You’ve gotta settle for something'"
His 'addiction' is constantly telling him 'you're fine, you don't have a problem. Just be happy with what you've got'.
"Though it might not be really living
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing"
Here he's trying to tell himself that even though he's depressed and addicted to drugs, he's still living... Which is better than being dead.
"No happy action man gonna to move in and take my place
I’ll be pumping up the product
Just a total waste"
He's never going to be a happy go-lucky person, he's resigned to being depressed and 'pumping up the product' (injecting heroin) even though he knows he could do much more with his life.
"Look at your hands unoccupied
Look at the lengths you’ll go to hide
You’re under the veil
Pretending to fail"
He's a shy person who evades the spotlight.
"Got a whole lot of empty time left to go
Now you’ve got to fill it with something
I know what you can do, don’t you know?
Anything is better than nothing"
His addiction is again creeping up and coaxing him into having another fix.
"No happy action man gonna to move in and take my place
I’ll be pumping up the product
Just a total waste"
Again, reiterating he's never going to be a happy go-lucky person, he's resigned to being depressed and using drugs even though he knows he could do much more.
"I’m here with my cup
Afraid to look up
This is how I spend my time
Lazying around, head hanging down
Stuck inside my imagination
Busy making something from nothing
Pictures of hope and depression"
How obvious does it have to be? He's heavily depressed and can't escape it unless he is using.
"Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing"
He's still trying to convince himself that 'anything is better than nothing'... having a miserable life is better than having no life at all.
Hi guys, this is my first post here so please be kind ;)
I've just discovered this song and it's now easily one my all time favorites. I cant stop listening to it. Here's my take on it, which I believe is about depression and drug addiction... and yes I know not all of his songs are about it, but this one definitely is (in my mind).
"Here come the sidewalk boss again Telling me how I can't cave in That I’m a study in black Need a pat on the back I look up and smile A picture of dissatisfaction"
People who don't know or understand him are are patting him on the back saying "It's all going to be ok, hang in there" and all he can do is give them a fake smile.
"That he can only see as a junkie Though I might be straight as an arrow He’s busy shaking hands with my monkey Busy shaking hands with my monkey"
He believes people are just pigeon-holing him as a depressive drug addict, even when he might be straight and not on drugs, that's all they see. They're shaking hands with his 'monkey' as in a drug problem is usually called 'a monkey on your back'.
"I go in my car Straight to the bar Where my sweetie pours the beer For the millions of fans ignoring the bands"
Pretty straight forward and literal in my opinion.
"He’s in my ear Wants me to live in denial Says, 'You’ve gotta settle for something'"
His 'addiction' is constantly telling him 'you're fine, you don't have a problem. Just be happy with what you've got'.
"Though it might not be really living Anything is better than nothing Anything is better than nothing"
Here he's trying to tell himself that even though he's depressed and addicted to drugs, he's still living... Which is better than being dead.
"No happy action man gonna to move in and take my place I’ll be pumping up the product Just a total waste"
He's never going to be a happy go-lucky person, he's resigned to being depressed and 'pumping up the product' (injecting heroin) even though he knows he could do much more with his life.
"Look at your hands unoccupied Look at the lengths you’ll go to hide You’re under the veil Pretending to fail"
He's a shy person who evades the spotlight.
"Got a whole lot of empty time left to go Now you’ve got to fill it with something I know what you can do, don’t you know? Anything is better than nothing"
His addiction is again creeping up and coaxing him into having another fix.
"No happy action man gonna to move in and take my place I’ll be pumping up the product Just a total waste"
Again, reiterating he's never going to be a happy go-lucky person, he's resigned to being depressed and using drugs even though he knows he could do much more.
"I’m here with my cup Afraid to look up This is how I spend my time Lazying around, head hanging down Stuck inside my imagination Busy making something from nothing Pictures of hope and depression"
How obvious does it have to be? He's heavily depressed and can't escape it unless he is using.
"Anything is better than nothing Anything is better than nothing Anything is better than nothing Anything is better than nothing"
He's still trying to convince himself that 'anything is better than nothing'... having a miserable life is better than having no life at all.