To me, this song is about the murders of prominent public figures in U.S. history that have become conspiracies. While it has parts that are all-encompassing or general, there are two references to specific cases. The lyrics "A patsy is useful. A window with a view" is a direct reference to Lee Harvey Oswald, who was accused of assassinating President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Oswald famously announced to TV crews that he was a "patsy" and the 'window with a view' part is a reference to the fact that he allegedly fired the fatal shots from a window in a nearby building as JFK drove past. The second specific reference is to Mark David Chapman, who was tried and convicted of killing former Beatle John Lennon in 1980. Chapman was known to have become obsessed with the J.D. Salinger novel "Catcher In The Rye", which the lyrics say "Read 'Catcher In The Rye' 110 f**king times" and "Obsession defined." Another lyric says "That's what he said to me. The voice in my mind," which is a reference to the fact that Chapman had repeatedly heard voices in his head during his last few years as a free man. Finally, in a more general sense, the song is written as if we were hearing from the "government-programmed" assassins, which is referenced by the lyrics "You're a little device. A mindless satellite" and "I'm remote-controlled. I'm robotized for the dark government."
To me, this song is about the murders of prominent public figures in U.S. history that have become conspiracies. While it has parts that are all-encompassing or general, there are two references to specific cases. The lyrics "A patsy is useful. A window with a view" is a direct reference to Lee Harvey Oswald, who was accused of assassinating President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Oswald famously announced to TV crews that he was a "patsy" and the 'window with a view' part is a reference to the fact that he allegedly fired the fatal shots from a window in a nearby building as JFK drove past. The second specific reference is to Mark David Chapman, who was tried and convicted of killing former Beatle John Lennon in 1980. Chapman was known to have become obsessed with the J.D. Salinger novel "Catcher In The Rye", which the lyrics say "Read 'Catcher In The Rye' 110 f**king times" and "Obsession defined." Another lyric says "That's what he said to me. The voice in my mind," which is a reference to the fact that Chapman had repeatedly heard voices in his head during his last few years as a free man. Finally, in a more general sense, the song is written as if we were hearing from the "government-programmed" assassins, which is referenced by the lyrics "You're a little device. A mindless satellite" and "I'm remote-controlled. I'm robotized for the dark government."