Interesting that the first stanza is doubled. He really isn't happy that he took someone else's advice. If you approach this from a religious perspective, was he tempted by the devil? Or is this an existential/rhetorical question? Either way, it's brought him to ruin, which is pretty severe. There is also the possibility of a relationship that didn't work out, and maybe the first two stanzas are in reference to some advice someone gave him about a relationship problem - "Oh I was made to live without you, but I'm never going to understand" - it's not his decision to be without that other person, and it doesn't make any sense to him. The difference between being "made" to live without and "born" to live without is beyond me.
I agree with others that the chandelier suggests a reference to their first album. It was such a huge success that it might have been hard for them to get out from under. I know for myself I had huge expectations for the second album and was disappointed. Maybe this whole song is in reference to an agent's/executive's suggestions? But further lyrics again suggest a relationship issue, as he feels like he's in prison: "leave me to my cell/leave me in my cell".
The "serving a master" lines further muddle the lines when it comes to meaning, and to me revisit a potentially religious theme. If someone has been made to blindly serve someone then it would be hard if someone offered an open hand to help - it would be tough to get out of the mentality of servitude and not making decisions for oneself. Actually, the more I think about, the more it seems to me that this song is about a breakup - but not with a girlfriend - with God.
Interesting that the first stanza is doubled. He really isn't happy that he took someone else's advice. If you approach this from a religious perspective, was he tempted by the devil? Or is this an existential/rhetorical question? Either way, it's brought him to ruin, which is pretty severe. There is also the possibility of a relationship that didn't work out, and maybe the first two stanzas are in reference to some advice someone gave him about a relationship problem - "Oh I was made to live without you, but I'm never going to understand" - it's not his decision to be without that other person, and it doesn't make any sense to him. The difference between being "made" to live without and "born" to live without is beyond me.
I agree with others that the chandelier suggests a reference to their first album. It was such a huge success that it might have been hard for them to get out from under. I know for myself I had huge expectations for the second album and was disappointed. Maybe this whole song is in reference to an agent's/executive's suggestions? But further lyrics again suggest a relationship issue, as he feels like he's in prison: "leave me to my cell/leave me in my cell".
The "serving a master" lines further muddle the lines when it comes to meaning, and to me revisit a potentially religious theme. If someone has been made to blindly serve someone then it would be hard if someone offered an open hand to help - it would be tough to get out of the mentality of servitude and not making decisions for oneself. Actually, the more I think about, the more it seems to me that this song is about a breakup - but not with a girlfriend - with God.