The title, and many of the lines, refer to Sylvia Plath's poem "Point Shirley". The "or not to be" part comes from Shakespeare, of course, from the scene where Hamlet is contemplating suicide. Plath herself committed suicide at age 30.
Plath also referenced Shakespeare in her poem: "Grey waves the stub-necked eiders ride/A labor of love, and that labor lost/Steadily the sea/Eats at Point Shirley."
In my interpretation, the song is told from the point of view of someone concerned that a friend is feeling suicidal. He recognizes those feelings because he has been there himself.
The title, and many of the lines, refer to Sylvia Plath's poem "Point Shirley". The "or not to be" part comes from Shakespeare, of course, from the scene where Hamlet is contemplating suicide. Plath herself committed suicide at age 30.
Plath also referenced Shakespeare in her poem: "Grey waves the stub-necked eiders ride/A labor of love, and that labor lost/Steadily the sea/Eats at Point Shirley."
In my interpretation, the song is told from the point of view of someone concerned that a friend is feeling suicidal. He recognizes those feelings because he has been there himself.