I've always thought of the narrator as a young-ish person, maybe early 20s, who had a rough childhood ("one that that I learnt when I was still a child it's to take a hiding"), and probably had few friends ("... when I was still at school it's to be alone").
This has led him to put up this loving no-one front as a sort of defence against the world, to protect himself from people, because abused children can develop problems with being loved and accepting people, and to justify his loneliness.
I think it's actually a very sad song, despite the upbeat music. I like iamanartbitch's idea though, and the story about the 80s band loner is probably true, so its probably about that.
I've always thought of the narrator as a young-ish person, maybe early 20s, who had a rough childhood ("one that that I learnt when I was still a child it's to take a hiding"), and probably had few friends ("... when I was still at school it's to be alone").
This has led him to put up this loving no-one front as a sort of defence against the world, to protect himself from people, because abused children can develop problems with being loved and accepting people, and to justify his loneliness.
I think it's actually a very sad song, despite the upbeat music. I like iamanartbitch's idea though, and the story about the 80s band loner is probably true, so its probably about that.