Overall I think this song is about addiction. However I think there are two "perspectives" or "personas" in this song; the onlooker and the addict. I think for the first half of the song Vic is the "onlooker"; someone who is close to the addict and fears that if they keep using that they'll die. Hence the line "Am I the only one that thinks that you should stay alive?" Jason's persona, therefor, would be the addict.
However I think that their personas "switch roles" halfway through the song. Maybe after Vic's persona let Jason's down - he could've literally ran away or he could've gave in and gave the addict more of the drug because they couldn't stand seeing them in so much pain - he started becoming addicted to something himself. Though I don't think it would be drugs, but maybe alcohol. Which would be why Vic was the one screaming "I know what I want but it's now what I need", for he's trying to stay strong for Jason's persona while trying to quit his own addiction. But Jason's persona blames himself, knowing that Vic's persona wouldn't have become addicted to alcohol if it weren't for him worrying about Jason's own problem.
Another spin on the second half is Vic's persona did give Jason's persona more drugs because seeing him going through withdrawal was too much for him to handle. He blames himself and it takes an emotional toll as Vic's persona becomes torn between enabling Jason's persona and helping him be rid of this addiction. Hence the line "I know what I want" - aka to stop enabling the adict so he can recover and stop suffering - "But it's now what I need" - aka he wants to enable the addict to stop his own emotional pain, even though he doesn't want to because it would only cause them both more suffering; however, Vic's persona has some how been convinced that he needs to enable him to stop his own emotional conflict. Jason's persona notices Vic's persona's emotional turmoil and how hard the whole ordeal is on him and so he starts to regret ever dragging Vic's persona into the situation in the first place, not wanting to cause him pain in the first place.
One more take is that Vic's persona was the addict all along and that the first half of the song had Jason's persona seem like the addict because the first half Vic's persona is trying to put himself in an onlookers shoes to see how his own addiction effects everyone else around him. But by the second half of the song it is revealed that Vic is the addict, hence how he let Jason's persona down by still using and relapsing. By the end of it Vic's persona is desperate for more drugs since he's very far into withdrawal and begs for Jason's persona to get him some. Though this wouldn't make too much sense because of the ending, unless it ends up being like the beginning or Jason gave in and gave the other more drugs.
Either way it's an amazing song. One of my favorites on the album.
Overall I think this song is about addiction. However I think there are two "perspectives" or "personas" in this song; the onlooker and the addict. I think for the first half of the song Vic is the "onlooker"; someone who is close to the addict and fears that if they keep using that they'll die. Hence the line "Am I the only one that thinks that you should stay alive?" Jason's persona, therefor, would be the addict.
However I think that their personas "switch roles" halfway through the song. Maybe after Vic's persona let Jason's down - he could've literally ran away or he could've gave in and gave the addict more of the drug because they couldn't stand seeing them in so much pain - he started becoming addicted to something himself. Though I don't think it would be drugs, but maybe alcohol. Which would be why Vic was the one screaming "I know what I want but it's now what I need", for he's trying to stay strong for Jason's persona while trying to quit his own addiction. But Jason's persona blames himself, knowing that Vic's persona wouldn't have become addicted to alcohol if it weren't for him worrying about Jason's own problem.
Another spin on the second half is Vic's persona did give Jason's persona more drugs because seeing him going through withdrawal was too much for him to handle. He blames himself and it takes an emotional toll as Vic's persona becomes torn between enabling Jason's persona and helping him be rid of this addiction. Hence the line "I know what I want" - aka to stop enabling the adict so he can recover and stop suffering - "But it's now what I need" - aka he wants to enable the addict to stop his own emotional pain, even though he doesn't want to because it would only cause them both more suffering; however, Vic's persona has some how been convinced that he needs to enable him to stop his own emotional conflict. Jason's persona notices Vic's persona's emotional turmoil and how hard the whole ordeal is on him and so he starts to regret ever dragging Vic's persona into the situation in the first place, not wanting to cause him pain in the first place.
One more take is that Vic's persona was the addict all along and that the first half of the song had Jason's persona seem like the addict because the first half Vic's persona is trying to put himself in an onlookers shoes to see how his own addiction effects everyone else around him. But by the second half of the song it is revealed that Vic is the addict, hence how he let Jason's persona down by still using and relapsing. By the end of it Vic's persona is desperate for more drugs since he's very far into withdrawal and begs for Jason's persona to get him some. Though this wouldn't make too much sense because of the ending, unless it ends up being like the beginning or Jason gave in and gave the other more drugs.
Either way it's an amazing song. One of my favorites on the album.