This is definitely my favorite off the new album. Here is my interpretation of the meaning....
Obviously, considering the title, the song has a lot to do with wanting to die to escape the pain of living. He starts off explaining the "story of a boy and his curse" (presumably himself), who was apparently a child of fortune ("Tiny diamond in his stroller..."), or at least simply born into a decent life setting. However, this boy tended toward bad habits or self-destruction from an early age ("With his first step, chasing the hearse"). Throughout his life, he has a positive outlook ("Sipping at a cup that's halfway filled," "Don't get me wrong, 'cause I love life..."), but is constantly set back by the difficulties he encounters ("looking forward to the day he pays that drinking bill," "but life has a boyfriend").
He goes on to explain the mood of his life: no peace, no quiet. The idea of being able to "finally nestle tightly in that womb beneath the dirt" is a clear reference to being dead in a coffin underground, but at least in some way at peace. At age 24 (I think just a crowning age of the limbo between adolescence and adulthood), he loses it, and just wants to die.
This all continues. Even a high-paying job, the love of his life, and a blessed child can't help him. Eventually, he dies (either literally or figuratively: "One sweet day, his heart ceased to beat"). Saying 'one sweet day' implies he got what he wanted. However, his last words are his plea to live again, but knowing that he "deserved this" for always wanting it. But still, after everything, all he wants is to be alive again, to enjoy "just one more birthday."
In summary, I think this song is a testament to the power and beauty of life, although it may hardly ever seem that way; it shows that even if your entire life is filled with reasons to make you want to escape it, in the end you will want to hold on to that life more than you want anything.
This is definitely my favorite off the new album. Here is my interpretation of the meaning....
Obviously, considering the title, the song has a lot to do with wanting to die to escape the pain of living. He starts off explaining the "story of a boy and his curse" (presumably himself), who was apparently a child of fortune ("Tiny diamond in his stroller..."), or at least simply born into a decent life setting. However, this boy tended toward bad habits or self-destruction from an early age ("With his first step, chasing the hearse"). Throughout his life, he has a positive outlook ("Sipping at a cup that's halfway filled," "Don't get me wrong, 'cause I love life..."), but is constantly set back by the difficulties he encounters ("looking forward to the day he pays that drinking bill," "but life has a boyfriend").
He goes on to explain the mood of his life: no peace, no quiet. The idea of being able to "finally nestle tightly in that womb beneath the dirt" is a clear reference to being dead in a coffin underground, but at least in some way at peace. At age 24 (I think just a crowning age of the limbo between adolescence and adulthood), he loses it, and just wants to die.
This all continues. Even a high-paying job, the love of his life, and a blessed child can't help him. Eventually, he dies (either literally or figuratively: "One sweet day, his heart ceased to beat"). Saying 'one sweet day' implies he got what he wanted. However, his last words are his plea to live again, but knowing that he "deserved this" for always wanting it. But still, after everything, all he wants is to be alive again, to enjoy "just one more birthday."
In summary, I think this song is a testament to the power and beauty of life, although it may hardly ever seem that way; it shows that even if your entire life is filled with reasons to make you want to escape it, in the end you will want to hold on to that life more than you want anything.