This song is clearly about an affair. "Ghost man on third" - He is the third man.
"Thinkin' if it's three
then I'm as smooth as the skin
rolls across the small of your back
It's too bad it's not my style"
He is good at hiding it, smooth even, but it's not what he wants.
"It's times like these where silence means everything
And no one is to know about this".
She is not willing to break it to her partner. He feels trapped, like the loose end, but won't interfere with her relationship because he doesn't want to see her hurt.
"It's a shame I don't think that they'll notice"
He's referring to the nature of his silence, he can't talk about the affair but it's having a negative effect on him. He can't ask for help without explaining the circumstances. He has to act normal, so no one notices what's happening to him.
"It's a campaign of distraction
and revisionist history"
This is possibly a reference to the nature of their relationship. He has to keep her boyfriend distracted in order to see her. Revisionist history might refer to his ever changing morals in the situation.
"But whatever I have gettin' myself into...not workin' out".
This refers to how he is dealing with the problem, he's frustrated that girl he loves is with another man and it's causing him to drink excessively, it's also causing him to lose weight, possibly from stress.
"Don't let me down".
He's hoping that it's all worth it, that she'll leave her boyfriend for him.
"This is why we were taught so much better than this
This is what living like this does"
He's reflecting on why he was always taught that this behavior was unacceptable, he's learning why.
This song is clearly about an affair. "Ghost man on third" - He is the third man.
"Thinkin' if it's three then I'm as smooth as the skin rolls across the small of your back It's too bad it's not my style"
He is good at hiding it, smooth even, but it's not what he wants.
"It's times like these where silence means everything And no one is to know about this". She is not willing to break it to her partner. He feels trapped, like the loose end, but won't interfere with her relationship because he doesn't want to see her hurt.
"It's a shame I don't think that they'll notice" He's referring to the nature of his silence, he can't talk about the affair but it's having a negative effect on him. He can't ask for help without explaining the circumstances. He has to act normal, so no one notices what's happening to him.
"It's a campaign of distraction and revisionist history" This is possibly a reference to the nature of their relationship. He has to keep her boyfriend distracted in order to see her. Revisionist history might refer to his ever changing morals in the situation.
"But whatever I have gettin' myself into...not workin' out". This refers to how he is dealing with the problem, he's frustrated that girl he loves is with another man and it's causing him to drink excessively, it's also causing him to lose weight, possibly from stress.
"Don't let me down". He's hoping that it's all worth it, that she'll leave her boyfriend for him.
"This is why we were taught so much better than this This is what living like this does" He's reflecting on why he was always taught that this behavior was unacceptable, he's learning why.
Hope that helps. Cheers.