I feel like this song is about drugs. "Crystal healer" immediately makes me think of crystal meth. The ideas of alchemy and black magic apply to the fact that meth is primarily manufactured in makeshift laboratories by amateur chemists. Addicts craving a fix often say that they are "sick," so in that sense the dealer is a healer for them. Selling self-help tapes could be a metaphor for selling drugs or may refer to the fact that the sale of drugs is often disguised as the sale of less nefarious goods.
The concept of a damned man who is resigned to his fate and decides to improve the hell he's in is definitely present here. If he's a drug dealer, he is one that believes that he is providing the people to whom he deals with a way to insulate themselves from the misery of their lives--"a shield against the snow."
I agree with the drug interpretation. That's what I first thought of when I heard the song in concert, at least.
I agree with the drug interpretation. That's what I first thought of when I heard the song in concert, at least.
I believe i heard somewhere that John Darnielle was at one point addicted to meth, but even if that's not true, judging by some of his songs and the story he told in the concert I went to, he is very aware of drug culture .
I believe i heard somewhere that John Darnielle was at one point addicted to meth, but even if that's not true, judging by some of his songs and the story he told in the concert I went to, he is very aware of drug culture .
I feel like this song is about drugs. "Crystal healer" immediately makes me think of crystal meth. The ideas of alchemy and black magic apply to the fact that meth is primarily manufactured in makeshift laboratories by amateur chemists. Addicts craving a fix often say that they are "sick," so in that sense the dealer is a healer for them. Selling self-help tapes could be a metaphor for selling drugs or may refer to the fact that the sale of drugs is often disguised as the sale of less nefarious goods.
The concept of a damned man who is resigned to his fate and decides to improve the hell he's in is definitely present here. If he's a drug dealer, he is one that believes that he is providing the people to whom he deals with a way to insulate themselves from the misery of their lives--"a shield against the snow."
I agree with the drug interpretation. That's what I first thought of when I heard the song in concert, at least.
I agree with the drug interpretation. That's what I first thought of when I heard the song in concert, at least.
I believe i heard somewhere that John Darnielle was at one point addicted to meth, but even if that's not true, judging by some of his songs and the story he told in the concert I went to, he is very aware of drug culture .
I believe i heard somewhere that John Darnielle was at one point addicted to meth, but even if that's not true, judging by some of his songs and the story he told in the concert I went to, he is very aware of drug culture .