Now that I've calmed down from the complete awesomeness of this song - I've had a chance to actually think about what the lyrics mean to me. Here's my interpretation (I've not heard one from Brian yet);
For me, this song is about trying to please those around at the expense of your own happiness. It seems that Brian is doing his best to make everyone around him happy (his family, his lovers, his friends) but in the end he looses it all anyway because he is not okay. Ultimately nobody cares for anyone more than they care for themselves ("No one cares when you're down in the gutter") so trying to please others was pointless if nobody is going to make him happy in return.
I don't know if what I said makes sense - it made sense in my mind. Anyway, I guess because that interpretation hits close to home, then that's how I see it.
Now that I've calmed down from the complete awesomeness of this song - I've had a chance to actually think about what the lyrics mean to me. Here's my interpretation (I've not heard one from Brian yet);
For me, this song is about trying to please those around at the expense of your own happiness. It seems that Brian is doing his best to make everyone around him happy (his family, his lovers, his friends) but in the end he looses it all anyway because he is not okay. Ultimately nobody cares for anyone more than they care for themselves ("No one cares when you're down in the gutter") so trying to please others was pointless if nobody is going to make him happy in return.
I don't know if what I said makes sense - it made sense in my mind. Anyway, I guess because that interpretation hits close to home, then that's how I see it.