This is an incredibly dark song. I believe it’s meant to cryptically describe the disturbing trappings of fame, what really goes on behind the scenes in the music industry, and the physical and psychological abuse a relatively innocent newbie artist has to endure, at the start of his musical career ("as our lives are in the making"), to ‘make it’ in the industry; an industry that is full of “lies and hating."
To me, the lyrics clearly reveal the trauma and deeply troubled and shattered psyche of someone who’s endured trauma, most probably through physical abuse/violent rituals, by others in the industry as he was making his debut in the musical scene (hence "I've got blood in my hair/Their hands touch my body"/ "And I'm close to calling out their names".) This individual's psyche is completely shattered (hence, having nightmares, screams, cold sweats, running dazed "run the wind round", and possibly contemplating suicide "as the only escape route to regain his freedom at all levels). Through this trauma, this individual’s undergone profound psychological transformation (hence, “I dream pictures of houses burning”, which I believe is metaphorically used to signify death to his old innocent self and the rebirth and emergence of a psychologically shattered but famous artist whose pride prevents him from naming the names of people who’ve broken him, and who is aware that should he choose to come forth with this revelation, the public and his fans will never look at him the same again (hence, “They forgive anything but greatness”). An artist is more or less a slave in the industry, and if you listen closely to Morten’s interviews, you can see he’s dispassionate about the industry and not very fond of his memories of rising to fame; the industry’s underbelly is after all quite dark and obnoxious.
This is an incredibly dark song. I believe it’s meant to cryptically describe the disturbing trappings of fame, what really goes on behind the scenes in the music industry, and the physical and psychological abuse a relatively innocent newbie artist has to endure, at the start of his musical career ("as our lives are in the making"), to ‘make it’ in the industry; an industry that is full of “lies and hating."
To me, the lyrics clearly reveal the trauma and deeply troubled and shattered psyche of someone who’s endured trauma, most probably through physical abuse/violent rituals, by others in the industry as he was making his debut in the musical scene (hence "I've got blood in my hair/Their hands touch my body"/ "And I'm close to calling out their names".) This individual's psyche is completely shattered (hence, having nightmares, screams, cold sweats, running dazed "run the wind round", and possibly contemplating suicide "as the only escape route to regain his freedom at all levels). Through this trauma, this individual’s undergone profound psychological transformation (hence, “I dream pictures of houses burning”, which I believe is metaphorically used to signify death to his old innocent self and the rebirth and emergence of a psychologically shattered but famous artist whose pride prevents him from naming the names of people who’ve broken him, and who is aware that should he choose to come forth with this revelation, the public and his fans will never look at him the same again (hence, “They forgive anything but greatness”). An artist is more or less a slave in the industry, and if you listen closely to Morten’s interviews, you can see he’s dispassionate about the industry and not very fond of his memories of rising to fame; the industry’s underbelly is after all quite dark and obnoxious.