I've always felt that this song is about depression and how difficult it is to get out of it, even when "reaching" out to someone else. Far too often you try and get better, but not because you want to, but because everyone around you does. It's a bit of a paradox with the "not a selfless man" part, but from the perspective of someone who struggles with depression it makes perfect sense - you beat yourself up all the time, thinking you're selfish when you see your condition hurt the ones you love, so you try and "cleanse" and wash it all off, for them. But unless you do it purely for yourself, you can't leave it behind you.
I've always felt that this song is about depression and how difficult it is to get out of it, even when "reaching" out to someone else. Far too often you try and get better, but not because you want to, but because everyone around you does. It's a bit of a paradox with the "not a selfless man" part, but from the perspective of someone who struggles with depression it makes perfect sense - you beat yourself up all the time, thinking you're selfish when you see your condition hurt the ones you love, so you try and "cleanse" and wash it all off, for them. But unless you do it purely for yourself, you can't leave it behind you.