I think they are simply talking about a person that had made lot of mistakes and behaved badly in the past.
"Drop that get up
Take it to the streets better lock that kid up
Face full of teeth when you hock that spit up
Pacing the beat like a beast
Rocking the block on repeat
Speak from the cut like a rush of blood
Paint red on the sleeves of the ones you love
Lay the sick ones down and the bells will ring
Put pennies on the eyes, let the dead men sing"
Mike is describing a selfish/violent man and his actions using a metaphorical language
"I shiver and shake the warm air cold
I'm alone on my own
In every mistake I dig this hole
Through my skin and bones
It's harder starting over
Than never to have changed"
The bad behavior has led this man to dig his grave, but he's trying to change (late is better than never).
"With blackbirds following me
I'm digging out my grave
They close in swallowing me
The pain it comes in waves
I'm getting back what I gave"
Blackbirds are all the consequences of the bad things that this man has done in the past.
However, he's trying to change, to emerge from the underground (digging OUT the grave).
But "blackbirds" are very close to him and are having their effects (causing pain in the man). He is getting back what he gave (he created pain, and now takes it back).
I think they are simply talking about a person that had made lot of mistakes and behaved badly in the past.
"Drop that get up Take it to the streets better lock that kid up Face full of teeth when you hock that spit up Pacing the beat like a beast Rocking the block on repeat Speak from the cut like a rush of blood Paint red on the sleeves of the ones you love Lay the sick ones down and the bells will ring Put pennies on the eyes, let the dead men sing"
Mike is describing a selfish/violent man and his actions using a metaphorical language
"I shiver and shake the warm air cold I'm alone on my own In every mistake I dig this hole Through my skin and bones It's harder starting over Than never to have changed"
The bad behavior has led this man to dig his grave, but he's trying to change (late is better than never).
"With blackbirds following me I'm digging out my grave They close in swallowing me The pain it comes in waves I'm getting back what I gave"
Blackbirds are all the consequences of the bad things that this man has done in the past. However, he's trying to change, to emerge from the underground (digging OUT the grave). But "blackbirds" are very close to him and are having their effects (causing pain in the man). He is getting back what he gave (he created pain, and now takes it back).