Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart Lyrics

Lyric discussion by iii320 

Cover art for Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart lyrics by Stone Temple Pilots

I could be wrong, but this song has tiny hints of heroin all over it.

By the time the Tiny Music hit shelves, Weiland already had a documented habit.

“Don’t cut out my paper heart / I ain’t dyin' anyway” —> Using has already caused others to predict his demise.

“All dressed up on wedding day / keep on tripping anyway” —> A big event in his life, one that should cause him to change. But he’s still using.

“Fake the heat / and scratch the itch” —> Satisfy the urge to use (“scratch the itch”), possible allusion to ‘itchy’ sensation of opiates

“When you binge / I purge alike” —> On and off the wagon, perhaps with another user

“One more trip / And I’ll be gone” —> Next time he overdoes it, he could overdose.

“Break your neck with diamond noose” —> Kill yourself for a great high

“I’m not myself, but I’m not dead and I’m not for sale” —> Bargaining with himself and others.

“Hold me closer / let me go” —> Going between “help me” and “leave me alone”

Scott said of the song, “it reflects my hunger for redemption”.

Or … could just be documenting a bad acid trip. We’ll never know.

My Interpretation