I agree that this song is mostly about abuse. Here's what I have to add to what's already been said:
No Confidence Man - reminds me of a confidence man, a con man, a man who can talk you into anything, who can trick you into things, make you believe that black is white. Also, a con man is always playing a role, always "on".
Elliott remembers Charlie coming to him when he's just trying to sleep and sexually abusing him (rubber loop = condom, "I'm the man you really want; So just act natural"). Also, reminds me of the line in Southern Belle "I wouldn't have you how you want".
Twice Elliott mentions Charlie's words as being important. He accuses Charlie of telling him "some bullshit scheme" when he comes to him in bed with the 'rubber loop' and then later he says "He gave me nothing but grief; And some bullshit story only I would believe". I think this goes along with the con man thing. I think Charlie justified his actions at the time (you know like saying "I'm doing this for your own good" or "I know you love me and that you want this" or "you brought this on yourself" or some such blame the victim nonsense.) And as a kid, of course it's hard not to believe it. Thus Charlie is a con man.
But now as an adult, Elliott knows it's all bullshit, that Charlie is 'full of it all the time', he sees through the lies so now Charlie is "no confidence man".
One last possible interpretation is that part of the song is set in the present where Elliott speaks to a friend about himself saying "You better wake up your friend [ie. Elliott himself]; Before he won't wake up anymore; Because I got to split, I'm late to leave". I think he's saying to a friend that at some point he is going to die so he doesn't have to listen to Charlie anymore [either literally or in his remembrances] so his friend had better wake him up while he still can.
I agree that this song is mostly about abuse. Here's what I have to add to what's already been said:
No Confidence Man - reminds me of a confidence man, a con man, a man who can talk you into anything, who can trick you into things, make you believe that black is white. Also, a con man is always playing a role, always "on".
Elliott remembers Charlie coming to him when he's just trying to sleep and sexually abusing him (rubber loop = condom, "I'm the man you really want; So just act natural"). Also, reminds me of the line in Southern Belle "I wouldn't have you how you want".
Twice Elliott mentions Charlie's words as being important. He accuses Charlie of telling him "some bullshit scheme" when he comes to him in bed with the 'rubber loop' and then later he says "He gave me nothing but grief; And some bullshit story only I would believe". I think this goes along with the con man thing. I think Charlie justified his actions at the time (you know like saying "I'm doing this for your own good" or "I know you love me and that you want this" or "you brought this on yourself" or some such blame the victim nonsense.) And as a kid, of course it's hard not to believe it. Thus Charlie is a con man.
But now as an adult, Elliott knows it's all bullshit, that Charlie is 'full of it all the time', he sees through the lies so now Charlie is "no confidence man".
One last possible interpretation is that part of the song is set in the present where Elliott speaks to a friend about himself saying "You better wake up your friend [ie. Elliott himself]; Before he won't wake up anymore; Because I got to split, I'm late to leave". I think he's saying to a friend that at some point he is going to die so he doesn't have to listen to Charlie anymore [either literally or in his remembrances] so his friend had better wake him up while he still can.