I believe it's about drug addiction. WARNING - This may contain explicit information about drug use, please don't read if it offends you
Once you've been a heroin addict, there is no true going back. You can change your life, you can end your addiction. But the desire to use, the things you've experienced, they will never truly go away. Places remind you of fond memories of using, they trigger you. People trigger you. Photographs, anything that reminds you, it brings back memories and a desire to use.
"I heard your voice through a photograph" - Referring to seeing a photo that reminded him of drugs even if it isn't even particularly related. Maybe the photo was of a person or a place that reminded him of drugs.
"I thought it up and brought up the past" - It reminded him of his past. Maybe he just thought of heroin or the photo reminded him.
"Stranger things could never change my mind
I’ve got to take it on the otherside" - Once you've been to the "other side", ie, you've tried heroin a few times or you've been addicted, there's no going back. You're on the otherside and you're going to have to live there forever. Once you have that desire to use after being triggered it's extremely hard to throw off.
"The ashtray’s full and I’m spillin’ my guts" - Heroin users smoke a lot because it enhances the high. Spillin my guts could refer to vomiting which happens during withdrawal.
"She wants to know am I still a slut" - People often refer to heroin as "she" because the drug can be like an abusive relationship. You love it, it shows you a wonderful time then give you hell. By slut, he is referring to abusing "her" and allowing her to abuse him... Enjoying her like a slut enjoys sex then feeling dirty afterward.
"I Don't believe it's bad" Can be that heroin addicts don't believe it's bad, they know its bad, but well... its hard to explain unless you've been there.
"I yell and tell it that
It’s not a friend
I tear it down I tear it down
And then it’s born again" - You hate the drug, you know it's wrecked your life. It's not your friend, you defeat it, but it so easily comes back. Someone calls you. You're reminded of it by some little reason... You drive past a place you've used... You see a user and you're tempted to "Befriend" them and get contacts.. the list goes on... So many things out there can give you the urge to bring it back into your life.
EXPLICIT CONTENT ABOUT DRUG USE WARNING
"Scarlet starlet and she’s in my bed
A candidate for a soul mate bled
Push the trigger and pull the thread I’ve got to take it on the otherside" - When you inject, if you use a tourniquet, you tie something around your arm to make the vein show. Then you put the needle in and pull the plunger out to register blood. Before you push it in you "pull the thread" (untie the tourniquet) then push in. Then once you've used once after being clean for a while you're back on that "other side", craving, fighting the drug, all over again. SORRY for being so descriptive and explicit but this is what I understand the lyrics to be in relation to.
END EXPLICIT CONTENT
Also the tune of the song is very... reminiscent of the sad and hopeless feeling that haunts your life once you're on that "other side"
I can also relate it to being depressed and feeling down, because there is always a reason for that, and you end up associating that depressive feeling to a lot of things, just like the drug addiction, and just like it you sometimes get "healed" and then crumble to the ground when something triggers the bad feeling again "I tear it down, i tear it down, but then it's born again"
In this metaphorical interpretation, the meaning of Otherside may be the point where you feel healed from the bad, repressive thoughts, the place where you want to be, this is...
I can also relate it to being depressed and feeling down, because there is always a reason for that, and you end up associating that depressive feeling to a lot of things, just like the drug addiction, and just like it you sometimes get "healed" and then crumble to the ground when something triggers the bad feeling again "I tear it down, i tear it down, but then it's born again"
In this metaphorical interpretation, the meaning of Otherside may be the point where you feel healed from the bad, repressive thoughts, the place where you want to be, this is how i interpreted it when i first heard with thought, and not knowing of the drug addiction interpretation.
For the section "she wants to know am i still a slut", it was pretty obvious to me it reffered to depression, because just like drugs, you turn into depression's slut, and you seem to actually get addicted to the feeling of being depressed (just like drug addciotion), so much that you almost enjoy it, "almost" is key here...
And well for the interpretation of the rest of the lyrics, you made a great job, and its pretty much got the same meaning (except for the drug relations), i believe these two things are well related, and since not everyone is a drug addict but everyone get's through up's and down's, this would be a nice way for everyone to interpret it.
As for the "I don't believe it's bad", i see it has refference to the fact that good or bad, it's life, it's all part of what makes us what we are, and we would be only half of what we are, without the duality of good/bad, dark/light (Frusciante's Song), etc... And that we should sort of just "Go with the Flow"
Thank you for sharing that with us, anonduser. hug
I have a question - well, a theory - about a particular line that I was hoping someone could let me know if I'm on the right track. (or explain it to me ,if I am completely wrong.)
Thank you for sharing that with us, anonduser. hug
I have a question - well, a theory - about a particular line that I was hoping someone could let me know if I'm on the right track. (or explain it to me ,if I am completely wrong.)
The last line from the chorus: "It's all I ever." It seems like it should be "It's all I ever HAD", especialy since the third line ends with "bad" and usually these two sentences would rhyme. Which would mean that "It's all I ever" ends prematurely. It abruptly trails off,...
The last line from the chorus: "It's all I ever." It seems like it should be "It's all I ever HAD", especialy since the third line ends with "bad" and usually these two sentences would rhyme. Which would mean that "It's all I ever" ends prematurely. It abruptly trails off, like an unfinished thought. Could that be an allusion to nodding off?
Also, the word "had" is the past tense of "have." But since he is using again, he now HAS it, so the past tense 'had' no longer applies.. Like "it's all I ever had" was a mantra he used to repeat, but this time as he says it, he realizes it is no longer true, so he stops himself mid-sentence from finishing....
Finally someone that knows how to listen and interpret. Seriously, I believe most of their songs are about this very struggle of his. How could he not write about it?
Finally someone that knows how to listen and interpret. Seriously, I believe most of their songs are about this very struggle of his. How could he not write about it?
@anonduser You hit the nail on the head with the heroin addiction and how it never truly goes away. In a weird way that inanimate object, that chemical, takes on an almost motherly relationship with you; she, Heroin, takes care of you when you feel bad about anything; she keeps you going when you have nothing left to live for; and in an odd way, she makes your life worth living. Some people can’t face the reality of the situation and thus do anything to not think about said thing that they can’t face for whatever reason. It feels like...
@anonduser You hit the nail on the head with the heroin addiction and how it never truly goes away. In a weird way that inanimate object, that chemical, takes on an almost motherly relationship with you; she, Heroin, takes care of you when you feel bad about anything; she keeps you going when you have nothing left to live for; and in an odd way, she makes your life worth living. Some people can’t face the reality of the situation and thus do anything to not think about said thing that they can’t face for whatever reason. It feels like a relationship where you’re just stupid happy all the time for no real reason.
Have you ever heard someone talk about your DOC and you actually feel a bit jealous? Hey, it’s very difficult if not impossible to tell the difference between a love relationship with another person and an addiction to a specific chemical. Switch out the two and see if you can telll a difference in their desire, their obsession, their LOVE for that person, thing, behavior, etc. What does that say about love?
@anonduser no doubt..this is spot on. Every line makes sense. I've never had heroine,but I had strong pain medication for almost 30 years. i've known withdrawal, and I've known relief. Whether it's about drugs or love or loss, the words,the melody send a heart wrenching reminder to us all about the pain of coping with impossible pain. Let's hope the other side brings sweet relief.
See you there..love Marcia in Modesto????
@anonduser no doubt..this is spot on. Every line makes sense. I've never had heroine,but I had strong pain medication for almost 30 years. i've known withdrawal, and I've known relief. Whether it's about drugs or love or loss, the words,the melody send a heart wrenching reminder to us all about the pain of coping with impossible pain. Let's hope the other side brings sweet relief.
See you there..love Marcia in Modesto????
I believe it's about drug addiction. WARNING - This may contain explicit information about drug use, please don't read if it offends you
Once you've been a heroin addict, there is no true going back. You can change your life, you can end your addiction. But the desire to use, the things you've experienced, they will never truly go away. Places remind you of fond memories of using, they trigger you. People trigger you. Photographs, anything that reminds you, it brings back memories and a desire to use.
"I heard your voice through a photograph" - Referring to seeing a photo that reminded him of drugs even if it isn't even particularly related. Maybe the photo was of a person or a place that reminded him of drugs.
"I thought it up and brought up the past" - It reminded him of his past. Maybe he just thought of heroin or the photo reminded him.
"Stranger things could never change my mind I’ve got to take it on the otherside" - Once you've been to the "other side", ie, you've tried heroin a few times or you've been addicted, there's no going back. You're on the otherside and you're going to have to live there forever. Once you have that desire to use after being triggered it's extremely hard to throw off.
"The ashtray’s full and I’m spillin’ my guts" - Heroin users smoke a lot because it enhances the high. Spillin my guts could refer to vomiting which happens during withdrawal.
"She wants to know am I still a slut" - People often refer to heroin as "she" because the drug can be like an abusive relationship. You love it, it shows you a wonderful time then give you hell. By slut, he is referring to abusing "her" and allowing her to abuse him... Enjoying her like a slut enjoys sex then feeling dirty afterward.
"I Don't believe it's bad" Can be that heroin addicts don't believe it's bad, they know its bad, but well... its hard to explain unless you've been there.
"I yell and tell it that It’s not a friend I tear it down I tear it down And then it’s born again" - You hate the drug, you know it's wrecked your life. It's not your friend, you defeat it, but it so easily comes back. Someone calls you. You're reminded of it by some little reason... You drive past a place you've used... You see a user and you're tempted to "Befriend" them and get contacts.. the list goes on... So many things out there can give you the urge to bring it back into your life.
EXPLICIT CONTENT ABOUT DRUG USE WARNING
"Scarlet starlet and she’s in my bed A candidate for a soul mate bled Push the trigger and pull the thread I’ve got to take it on the otherside" - When you inject, if you use a tourniquet, you tie something around your arm to make the vein show. Then you put the needle in and pull the plunger out to register blood. Before you push it in you "pull the thread" (untie the tourniquet) then push in. Then once you've used once after being clean for a while you're back on that "other side", craving, fighting the drug, all over again. SORRY for being so descriptive and explicit but this is what I understand the lyrics to be in relation to.
END EXPLICIT CONTENT
Also the tune of the song is very... reminiscent of the sad and hopeless feeling that haunts your life once you're on that "other side"
wow. good job
wow. good job
Very good explanation!
Very good explanation!
I can also relate it to being depressed and feeling down, because there is always a reason for that, and you end up associating that depressive feeling to a lot of things, just like the drug addiction, and just like it you sometimes get "healed" and then crumble to the ground when something triggers the bad feeling again "I tear it down, i tear it down, but then it's born again" In this metaphorical interpretation, the meaning of Otherside may be the point where you feel healed from the bad, repressive thoughts, the place where you want to be, this is...
I can also relate it to being depressed and feeling down, because there is always a reason for that, and you end up associating that depressive feeling to a lot of things, just like the drug addiction, and just like it you sometimes get "healed" and then crumble to the ground when something triggers the bad feeling again "I tear it down, i tear it down, but then it's born again" In this metaphorical interpretation, the meaning of Otherside may be the point where you feel healed from the bad, repressive thoughts, the place where you want to be, this is how i interpreted it when i first heard with thought, and not knowing of the drug addiction interpretation. For the section "she wants to know am i still a slut", it was pretty obvious to me it reffered to depression, because just like drugs, you turn into depression's slut, and you seem to actually get addicted to the feeling of being depressed (just like drug addciotion), so much that you almost enjoy it, "almost" is key here... And well for the interpretation of the rest of the lyrics, you made a great job, and its pretty much got the same meaning (except for the drug relations), i believe these two things are well related, and since not everyone is a drug addict but everyone get's through up's and down's, this would be a nice way for everyone to interpret it. As for the "I don't believe it's bad", i see it has refference to the fact that good or bad, it's life, it's all part of what makes us what we are, and we would be only half of what we are, without the duality of good/bad, dark/light (Frusciante's Song), etc... And that we should sort of just "Go with the Flow"
Thank you for sharing that with us, anonduser. hug I have a question - well, a theory - about a particular line that I was hoping someone could let me know if I'm on the right track. (or explain it to me ,if I am completely wrong.)
Thank you for sharing that with us, anonduser. hug I have a question - well, a theory - about a particular line that I was hoping someone could let me know if I'm on the right track. (or explain it to me ,if I am completely wrong.)
The last line from the chorus: "It's all I ever." It seems like it should be "It's all I ever HAD", especialy since the third line ends with "bad" and usually these two sentences would rhyme. Which would mean that "It's all I ever" ends prematurely. It abruptly trails off,...
The last line from the chorus: "It's all I ever." It seems like it should be "It's all I ever HAD", especialy since the third line ends with "bad" and usually these two sentences would rhyme. Which would mean that "It's all I ever" ends prematurely. It abruptly trails off, like an unfinished thought. Could that be an allusion to nodding off?
Also, the word "had" is the past tense of "have." But since he is using again, he now HAS it, so the past tense 'had' no longer applies.. Like "it's all I ever had" was a mantra he used to repeat, but this time as he says it, he realizes it is no longer true, so he stops himself mid-sentence from finishing....
Finally someone that knows how to listen and interpret. Seriously, I believe most of their songs are about this very struggle of his. How could he not write about it?
Finally someone that knows how to listen and interpret. Seriously, I believe most of their songs are about this very struggle of his. How could he not write about it?
@anonduser Great breakdown. And we know homeboy was an addict, so it makes sense
@anonduser Great breakdown. And we know homeboy was an addict, so it makes sense
@anonduser also... Maybe the veins in one arm collapsed and he had to use the other? (take it on the other side?)
@anonduser also... Maybe the veins in one arm collapsed and he had to use the other? (take it on the other side?)
@anonduser Thank you so much for the perfect description. Love it and it was all i need right now
@anonduser Thank you so much for the perfect description. Love it and it was all i need right now
@anonduser You hit the nail on the head with the heroin addiction and how it never truly goes away. In a weird way that inanimate object, that chemical, takes on an almost motherly relationship with you; she, Heroin, takes care of you when you feel bad about anything; she keeps you going when you have nothing left to live for; and in an odd way, she makes your life worth living. Some people can’t face the reality of the situation and thus do anything to not think about said thing that they can’t face for whatever reason. It feels like...
@anonduser You hit the nail on the head with the heroin addiction and how it never truly goes away. In a weird way that inanimate object, that chemical, takes on an almost motherly relationship with you; she, Heroin, takes care of you when you feel bad about anything; she keeps you going when you have nothing left to live for; and in an odd way, she makes your life worth living. Some people can’t face the reality of the situation and thus do anything to not think about said thing that they can’t face for whatever reason. It feels like a relationship where you’re just stupid happy all the time for no real reason.
Have you ever heard someone talk about your DOC and you actually feel a bit jealous? Hey, it’s very difficult if not impossible to tell the difference between a love relationship with another person and an addiction to a specific chemical. Switch out the two and see if you can telll a difference in their desire, their obsession, their LOVE for that person, thing, behavior, etc. What does that say about love?
@anonduser no doubt..this is spot on. Every line makes sense. I've never had heroine,but I had strong pain medication for almost 30 years. i've known withdrawal, and I've known relief. Whether it's about drugs or love or loss, the words,the melody send a heart wrenching reminder to us all about the pain of coping with impossible pain. Let's hope the other side brings sweet relief. See you there..love Marcia in Modesto????
@anonduser no doubt..this is spot on. Every line makes sense. I've never had heroine,but I had strong pain medication for almost 30 years. i've known withdrawal, and I've known relief. Whether it's about drugs or love or loss, the words,the melody send a heart wrenching reminder to us all about the pain of coping with impossible pain. Let's hope the other side brings sweet relief. See you there..love Marcia in Modesto????
@anonduser Great analysis but I always thought pull the thread but it's referring to registering that you hit the vein?
@anonduser Great analysis but I always thought pull the thread but it's referring to registering that you hit the vein?
Pull a thread of blood back into the syringe
Pull a thread of blood back into the syringe