I think it's important to keep in mind that formaldehyde is both a preservative AND a toxic chemical. To me it doesn't sound like a dead relationship; it sounds like one that they're both trying to hold onto—to preserve—even though it might be toxic: "I hope we swim up out of this flood."
I'm also pretty sure it's "The tissue and bone / THAT my soul has on loan." His body doesn't really belong to him; his soul is just borrowing it. I think the lyrics are trying to reconcile the complex machine of the physical body and the physical sensations of love and pain with the rollercoaster of emotion that comes from being in love, especially in a complicated relationship.
I think it's important to keep in mind that formaldehyde is both a preservative AND a toxic chemical. To me it doesn't sound like a dead relationship; it sounds like one that they're both trying to hold onto—to preserve—even though it might be toxic: "I hope we swim up out of this flood."
I'm also pretty sure it's "The tissue and bone / THAT my soul has on loan." His body doesn't really belong to him; his soul is just borrowing it. I think the lyrics are trying to reconcile the complex machine of the physical body and the physical sensations of love and pain with the rollercoaster of emotion that comes from being in love, especially in a complicated relationship.