I think this is about the hypocrisy of people who judge the destructive behaviour (in this case, alcoholism) of others without showing understanding or demonstrating an ability to think for themselves.
"Your parents are raising your children" implies passed down values (from your parents) and ignorance to their origination. These values may be blindly accepted from our parents, the media, the Church etc., even though it's heinous and wrong.
"O, I could have told you, the vices wont hold you warm in a coil where you lay"
The typical mantra, that drugs and alcohol are not the answer, well everyone knows that. The idea that addicts don't deserve pity or help because they did it to themselves is commonly purported. The author is even saying they have a point. But it seems ignorant to stand on some pre-built high moral spire and judge without acknowledging the reason for the behaviour in the first place. Everyone struggles for power within themselves, so it's no good reason to get angry at someone just because you don't like the particular way they tried to cope.
Maybe to some extent we're all obeying some heinous law where we think we are right, but we are really just using some misguided principles to hurt other people and feel better about ourselves. If this cannot be avoided (and I don't think it can), then we should always question what is right and wrong in the hope of finding a more representative and fair standard.
Anyway, these lyrics say it much more eloquently. The poetic imagery Glenn uses is always so emotionally and intellectually provocative. I'll stop gushing now.
I think this is about the hypocrisy of people who judge the destructive behaviour (in this case, alcoholism) of others without showing understanding or demonstrating an ability to think for themselves.
"Your parents are raising your children" implies passed down values (from your parents) and ignorance to their origination. These values may be blindly accepted from our parents, the media, the Church etc., even though it's heinous and wrong.
"O, I could have told you, the vices wont hold you warm in a coil where you lay" The typical mantra, that drugs and alcohol are not the answer, well everyone knows that. The idea that addicts don't deserve pity or help because they did it to themselves is commonly purported. The author is even saying they have a point. But it seems ignorant to stand on some pre-built high moral spire and judge without acknowledging the reason for the behaviour in the first place. Everyone struggles for power within themselves, so it's no good reason to get angry at someone just because you don't like the particular way they tried to cope.
Maybe to some extent we're all obeying some heinous law where we think we are right, but we are really just using some misguided principles to hurt other people and feel better about ourselves. If this cannot be avoided (and I don't think it can), then we should always question what is right and wrong in the hope of finding a more representative and fair standard.
Anyway, these lyrics say it much more eloquently. The poetic imagery Glenn uses is always so emotionally and intellectually provocative. I'll stop gushing now.