I saw John Darnielle talking about the song on youtube and he said its about "survives". Judy Garland was forced by producers (fat rich men) to take amphetamines as well as barbiturates as a teenage actress which lead to a life long addiction that eventually killed. John as a victim of child abuse related to her over coming her ruff beginning and the tone of the song captures the sorrow for what the businesses did do her. "you don't want to see these guys without there mask on" is him saying that normal people (producers in Garlands case or his father in Johns) can do life long damage to people without anyone knowing.
I saw John Darnielle talking about the song on youtube and he said its about "survives". Judy Garland was forced by producers (fat rich men) to take amphetamines as well as barbiturates as a teenage actress which lead to a life long addiction that eventually killed. John as a victim of child abuse related to her over coming her ruff beginning and the tone of the song captures the sorrow for what the businesses did do her. "you don't want to see these guys without there mask on" is him saying that normal people (producers in Garlands case or his father in Johns) can do life long damage to people without anyone knowing.
@liamde no link for the youtube video? :(
@liamde no link for the youtube video? :(