I interpreted it in a much more negative light; it seems this song is about an alcoholic or junkie promising they'll stop taking the drinks or drugs but never coming through. The imagery of water makes me think this is referring to alcoholism. He says all these things in a moment of desperation that he'll be better soon ("all the fallen leaves will find their branches again") but never commits to a time when he'll actually become sober ("in another week, promise? In another year, I promise?"). The junkie/alcoholic is actually attempting to fool his loved ones who are begging him to change his ways but in the end he needs to make the promise to become sober himself. In this song he's saying "put YOUR right hand on my heart" instead of his own which means he will not stick to the promise to become sober.
I interpreted it in a much more negative light; it seems this song is about an alcoholic or junkie promising they'll stop taking the drinks or drugs but never coming through. The imagery of water makes me think this is referring to alcoholism. He says all these things in a moment of desperation that he'll be better soon ("all the fallen leaves will find their branches again") but never commits to a time when he'll actually become sober ("in another week, promise? In another year, I promise?"). The junkie/alcoholic is actually attempting to fool his loved ones who are begging him to change his ways but in the end he needs to make the promise to become sober himself. In this song he's saying "put YOUR right hand on my heart" instead of his own which means he will not stick to the promise to become sober.