Although the prevailing sentiment on this board is that it's an anti-drug song, I believe it's the opposite. It's sung from the perspective of an addict who is simultaneously in denial about their addiction and reveling in how it makes them feel. These lines are repeated several times:
It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive
If you don't have it you're on the other side
I'm not an addict, maybe that's a lie
The first of those lines is clearly intended as a counter-argument to someone telling the addict that they have a problem. "No man, you don't understand, it's not a habit at all. It's totally cool. It makes me feel alive!"
The second line is along the same lines, essentially telling that same person that if they aren't experiencing it then they can't possibly understand.
The third line, however, is the clincher. The addict, fresh off denying that they're an addict, admits that the denials are probably a lie. These lines are usually followed by a repetition of the "I'm not an addict" chorus, but by this point it's clear that the speaker is very much an addict, even if they don't want to call it that, and that they're actually reveling in it.
@mainah it is written from the perspective of an addict. But it is an anti drugs song, the explain this multiple times. YouTube: meaning an addict K's Choice and you will see Sarah/Sam explaining it
@mainah it is written from the perspective of an addict. But it is an anti drugs song, the explain this multiple times. YouTube: meaning an addict K's Choice and you will see Sarah/Sam explaining it
@mainah in my opinion all the words in this song are intend, by the author, to describe the weakness, sickness and totally unwanted bad feeling, state of mind of a person who somehow uses/used drugs or similar stuff.
Except the words "maybe, that's a lie.."
Lines which, are really, I would say - perpetual Yin and yang in poetry and literature, including this particular author's. Ok, normally they suggest that "I m not so determined to leave all this (drug) addiction story, situation..". BUt in the same time it reminds me of some obvious characteristics of human nature, humans are not "perfect",...
@mainah in my opinion all the words in this song are intend, by the author, to describe the weakness, sickness and totally unwanted bad feeling, state of mind of a person who somehow uses/used drugs or similar stuff.
Except the words "maybe, that's a lie.."
Lines which, are really, I would say - perpetual Yin and yang in poetry and literature, including this particular author's. Ok, normally they suggest that "I m not so determined to leave all this (drug) addiction story, situation..". BUt in the same time it reminds me of some obvious characteristics of human nature, humans are not "perfect", and there is always an ethernal fight for life, and maybe it suggests that (similar) "even if now I am determined now, there might be another temptating thoughts next day, and nobody can say in advance what would happen.. " i mean the struggle is not over.
But also I find it a bit of humour even in this truly deep and serious issue, of not being so 100% sure in all the things in life.
Anyway it is "just" an song and lyrics, so it has metaphors.
P.s. in my opinion the lines with "it's not a habbit, it's cool I fell alive..." as a chorus text, combined with all the text, are mostly as an illusiory "cool, alive..." because in proximity of bad characteristics - "cold, alone..." I rather understand it like a way to lie to yourself.
And the struggle could take some time.
But I really like your approach to doubt about this song being 100% as an anti-drug addiction song. It may be, it may not be.
(THough I always thought, since first time I listened to it maaany years ago, it is to describe the bad states of mind and feelings when a person uses drugs)
Although the prevailing sentiment on this board is that it's an anti-drug song, I believe it's the opposite. It's sung from the perspective of an addict who is simultaneously in denial about their addiction and reveling in how it makes them feel. These lines are repeated several times:
It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive If you don't have it you're on the other side I'm not an addict, maybe that's a lie
The first of those lines is clearly intended as a counter-argument to someone telling the addict that they have a problem. "No man, you don't understand, it's not a habit at all. It's totally cool. It makes me feel alive!"
The second line is along the same lines, essentially telling that same person that if they aren't experiencing it then they can't possibly understand.
The third line, however, is the clincher. The addict, fresh off denying that they're an addict, admits that the denials are probably a lie. These lines are usually followed by a repetition of the "I'm not an addict" chorus, but by this point it's clear that the speaker is very much an addict, even if they don't want to call it that, and that they're actually reveling in it.
@mainah it is written from the perspective of an addict. But it is an anti drugs song, the explain this multiple times. YouTube: meaning an addict K's Choice and you will see Sarah/Sam explaining it
@mainah it is written from the perspective of an addict. But it is an anti drugs song, the explain this multiple times. YouTube: meaning an addict K's Choice and you will see Sarah/Sam explaining it
@mainah in my opinion all the words in this song are intend, by the author, to describe the weakness, sickness and totally unwanted bad feeling, state of mind of a person who somehow uses/used drugs or similar stuff. Except the words "maybe, that's a lie.." Lines which, are really, I would say - perpetual Yin and yang in poetry and literature, including this particular author's. Ok, normally they suggest that "I m not so determined to leave all this (drug) addiction story, situation..". BUt in the same time it reminds me of some obvious characteristics of human nature, humans are not "perfect",...
@mainah in my opinion all the words in this song are intend, by the author, to describe the weakness, sickness and totally unwanted bad feeling, state of mind of a person who somehow uses/used drugs or similar stuff. Except the words "maybe, that's a lie.." Lines which, are really, I would say - perpetual Yin and yang in poetry and literature, including this particular author's. Ok, normally they suggest that "I m not so determined to leave all this (drug) addiction story, situation..". BUt in the same time it reminds me of some obvious characteristics of human nature, humans are not "perfect", and there is always an ethernal fight for life, and maybe it suggests that (similar) "even if now I am determined now, there might be another temptating thoughts next day, and nobody can say in advance what would happen.. " i mean the struggle is not over. But also I find it a bit of humour even in this truly deep and serious issue, of not being so 100% sure in all the things in life. Anyway it is "just" an song and lyrics, so it has metaphors.
P.s. in my opinion the lines with "it's not a habbit, it's cool I fell alive..." as a chorus text, combined with all the text, are mostly as an illusiory "cool, alive..." because in proximity of bad characteristics - "cold, alone..." I rather understand it like a way to lie to yourself. And the struggle could take some time.
But I really like your approach to doubt about this song being 100% as an anti-drug addiction song. It may be, it may not be. (THough I always thought, since first time I listened to it maaany years ago, it is to describe the bad states of mind and feelings when a person uses drugs)