The first 2 songs of "Evil Friends" set the stage for this, the title track. This song in turn provides the tone/attitude which gives greater depth to the rest of the album.
To review, from Plastic Soldiers: "I'd like to stay by my friends... but I can't keep my head up." In that intro song, he's struggling to maintain his most basic relationships on an existential level under some oppressive heat, a kind of drowning, a burial in the dirt. It's also clear that he's addressing a younger person: "You've got the time, the rest of us will live and die..."
In Creep In a T-Shirt, in some washed-out haze, he addresses the vision of a cop (perhaps just in his head), who he's having to answer to for his confusion. Feeling like an alien himself, he doesn't know how to distinguish between friends and strangers, but he DOESN'T CARE! Why should he, anyway? We also first hear the melodic theme which becomes the chorus for this track. Therein lies the key!
"It's not because the light here is brighter
And it's not that I'm evil, I just don't like to pretend
That I could ever be your friend"
In other words, "I don't think I'm better than you, and I'm not out to get you or bring you down... I just can't keep lying to myself. WE'RE NOT FRIENDS."
It can be for any reason - religious, political, personal, or otherwise... but we're often terrified to let go of people we consider to be our friends, even if they're BAD for us.
How do you get around that, or change it? His response is radical self reliance. "Sins" often arise from doing so - drugs, sex, and fun, to get to know yourself. Be your own friend first and foremost. Stop giving so many !@$#s about what other people think, period.
The first 2 songs of "Evil Friends" set the stage for this, the title track. This song in turn provides the tone/attitude which gives greater depth to the rest of the album.
To review, from Plastic Soldiers: "I'd like to stay by my friends... but I can't keep my head up." In that intro song, he's struggling to maintain his most basic relationships on an existential level under some oppressive heat, a kind of drowning, a burial in the dirt. It's also clear that he's addressing a younger person: "You've got the time, the rest of us will live and die..."
In Creep In a T-Shirt, in some washed-out haze, he addresses the vision of a cop (perhaps just in his head), who he's having to answer to for his confusion. Feeling like an alien himself, he doesn't know how to distinguish between friends and strangers, but he DOESN'T CARE! Why should he, anyway? We also first hear the melodic theme which becomes the chorus for this track. Therein lies the key!
"It's not because the light here is brighter And it's not that I'm evil, I just don't like to pretend That I could ever be your friend"
In other words, "I don't think I'm better than you, and I'm not out to get you or bring you down... I just can't keep lying to myself. WE'RE NOT FRIENDS."
It can be for any reason - religious, political, personal, or otherwise... but we're often terrified to let go of people we consider to be our friends, even if they're BAD for us.
How do you get around that, or change it? His response is radical self reliance. "Sins" often arise from doing so - drugs, sex, and fun, to get to know yourself. Be your own friend first and foremost. Stop giving so many !@$#s about what other people think, period.
ESPECIALLY YOUR $!@#ING "FRIENDS".