I think that this song is all about a huge hangover:
'I went and set the Thames on fire. Now I must come back down'.
He obviously had money which is unusual for him and went on the beer. 'I see that the world is upside down, seems that my pocket was filled up with gold'.
I think Tom is now in the throes of the hangover
(Physical: 'my head is spinning round', Depression: 'my heart is in my shoes', 'Now the clouds cover everything over', 'The wind is blowing cold', 'I'd rather be alone', Paranoia: 'she's laughing in her sleeve boys, I can feel it in my bones').
All he wants to do is put down his head and go to sleep. Anywhere will do. He gets some solace from that and it actually quite defiant when he delivers the title line.
I think the big band upbeat instrumental at the end represents death (as was commonly played at the funeral of jazz players back in the 60s and 70s). I don't think it actually means death but more the feeling of extreme pain during a monster hangover.
I would hazard a guess that Tom has had many such feelings in his life so he was ok again in a couple of days.
I think that this song is all about a huge hangover: 'I went and set the Thames on fire. Now I must come back down'.
He obviously had money which is unusual for him and went on the beer. 'I see that the world is upside down, seems that my pocket was filled up with gold'.
I think Tom is now in the throes of the hangover (Physical: 'my head is spinning round', Depression: 'my heart is in my shoes', 'Now the clouds cover everything over', 'The wind is blowing cold', 'I'd rather be alone', Paranoia: 'she's laughing in her sleeve boys, I can feel it in my bones').
All he wants to do is put down his head and go to sleep. Anywhere will do. He gets some solace from that and it actually quite defiant when he delivers the title line.
I think the big band upbeat instrumental at the end represents death (as was commonly played at the funeral of jazz players back in the 60s and 70s). I don't think it actually means death but more the feeling of extreme pain during a monster hangover.
I would hazard a guess that Tom has had many such feelings in his life so he was ok again in a couple of days.
Incredible song though.