I believe that the song means the same as the saying, "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink." Meaning that you can help someone by showing them the truth, but the only way that they can truly understand the truth and take it in, is if they have some level of consciousness.
A friend of mine in so much misery
Some people sail through life, he is struggling
I said, "Hey man, let's go out and get some wisdom"
First he turned on me, then turned off his nervous system
this means that this person, alike most would like to know the truth, but as George wants to show him the meaning of life and happiness, "take the horse to water," the man turns off his "nervous system." meaning he doesn't receive the advice or answer with a conscious soul.
the overall meaning is that you can let someone know the meaning of life or philosophical answers to complex situations, but if they don't open their mind and take in the answer with an aware conscious, then they have been successfully "lead to the water." but won't or cannot "drink."
I believe that the song means the same as the saying, "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink." Meaning that you can help someone by showing them the truth, but the only way that they can truly understand the truth and take it in, is if they have some level of consciousness.
A friend of mine in so much misery Some people sail through life, he is struggling I said, "Hey man, let's go out and get some wisdom" First he turned on me, then turned off his nervous system
this means that this person, alike most would like to know the truth, but as George wants to show him the meaning of life and happiness, "take the horse to water," the man turns off his "nervous system." meaning he doesn't receive the advice or answer with a conscious soul. the overall meaning is that you can let someone know the meaning of life or philosophical answers to complex situations, but if they don't open their mind and take in the answer with an aware conscious, then they have been successfully "lead to the water." but won't or cannot "drink."
again, this was just my interpretation.