What makes the song so powerful is the seemingly non sequitur-like nature of the lyrics. I don't think there's one single "meaning" to discern from the text, but the imagery of Tricky's lyrics stimulates the formulation of one's own interpretation.
Personally, it speaks to me because of the melancholia of a traumatic past. Everyone with a traumatic past (and let's face it, we're all scarred) will know that "Hell" always remains "just around the corner" of where ever you are. No matter whether you got better.
To me, that's the core of the song. You can move beyond the shadows of your past, but they'll always be there. Perhaps there's some point when it's gone, but until then: you have to live with yourself.
What makes the song so powerful is the seemingly non sequitur-like nature of the lyrics. I don't think there's one single "meaning" to discern from the text, but the imagery of Tricky's lyrics stimulates the formulation of one's own interpretation.
Personally, it speaks to me because of the melancholia of a traumatic past. Everyone with a traumatic past (and let's face it, we're all scarred) will know that "Hell" always remains "just around the corner" of where ever you are. No matter whether you got better.
To me, that's the core of the song. You can move beyond the shadows of your past, but they'll always be there. Perhaps there's some point when it's gone, but until then: you have to live with yourself.