I think the war in this is largely metaphorical. The war, to me, is the past relationship with the girl in the song. For example, most people have found at some point that they drift from their friends a little, or in some cases completely while in a relationship ('and I left my friends behind me'), and the 'sickness ahead of me' and other verses refer to the troubled and ultimately failing relationship.
The chorus jumps to the present, where the relationship has fallen apart.
He imagines that his former lover still has feelings for him, although he knows really that she has found someone new. However, he is happy for now with his delusion - until he finds someone new himself, he can dream that she still wants him, which keeps him a little bit happy.
The place that he will 'be here quite a while' could refer to the hung up feelings that are stopping him moving on. So while he is still hung up and not moving on, he can imagine she still feels for him. This is harmless to her, but creates a vicious cycle for him - as long as he thinks of her as waiting for him, he won't get over her. Therefore he will be 'here quite a while'.
I think the war in this is largely metaphorical. The war, to me, is the past relationship with the girl in the song. For example, most people have found at some point that they drift from their friends a little, or in some cases completely while in a relationship ('and I left my friends behind me'), and the 'sickness ahead of me' and other verses refer to the troubled and ultimately failing relationship.
The chorus jumps to the present, where the relationship has fallen apart. He imagines that his former lover still has feelings for him, although he knows really that she has found someone new. However, he is happy for now with his delusion - until he finds someone new himself, he can dream that she still wants him, which keeps him a little bit happy.
The place that he will 'be here quite a while' could refer to the hung up feelings that are stopping him moving on. So while he is still hung up and not moving on, he can imagine she still feels for him. This is harmless to her, but creates a vicious cycle for him - as long as he thinks of her as waiting for him, he won't get over her. Therefore he will be 'here quite a while'.