When the song was written, he hadn't come out of the closet yet, but it seems clear that's what's at issue here. Dug has talked a lot in interviews -- and in his songs -- about his struggle to fit in. As a Christian he'd have heard many anti-gay messages, and the verses all seem to reflect his reaction to those messages:
"ok so it can't be right I cry and try and think and fight
ok so I need some help but they can't fix the way I feel"
... and especially:
"ok so I don't think like you do it's not my fault
ok I still try to find that fitting missing part"
Having your nature collide with the messages you've long accepted has got to hurt, hence:
"just one day just one second, maybe just a minute feel no pain"
You hear the pain and frustration again in the chorus "oh, I walk the line, black the sky". He's fighting his nature and remaining in his dark closet. But it's taking a superhuman effort and is sucking the life out of him.
One of many personal journey songs from Dug.
When the song was written, he hadn't come out of the closet yet, but it seems clear that's what's at issue here. Dug has talked a lot in interviews -- and in his songs -- about his struggle to fit in. As a Christian he'd have heard many anti-gay messages, and the verses all seem to reflect his reaction to those messages: "ok so it can't be right I cry and try and think and fight ok so I need some help but they can't fix the way I feel" ... and especially: "ok so I don't think like you do it's not my fault ok I still try to find that fitting missing part"
Having your nature collide with the messages you've long accepted has got to hurt, hence: "just one day just one second, maybe just a minute feel no pain"
You hear the pain and frustration again in the chorus "oh, I walk the line, black the sky". He's fighting his nature and remaining in his dark closet. But it's taking a superhuman effort and is sucking the life out of him.