I think it's about a 'good boy' (maybe Alex was talking about his life after fame?) who has found a new group of people/friends.
He knows they are toxic - they snort coke and have different values than his set of 'calculations' (& arithmetic) but he succumbs to pressure, anyway.
(This rings true with what Andy said once about the reason for leaving the band , that he didn't want to be involved in the drugs/party lifestyle?)
They influence not only his lifestyle but even his thoughts. He's become what he's hated. ("All the weekend rock stars are practising their lines")
He does whatever they ask of him. He's the new shiny toy. He's embarrassed and ashamed at himself for playing into their hands but he secretly enjoys the attention as well.
But then they discard him and he realises, what he knew all along anyway.
He's sitting in his bed of 'nettles' or REGRETS.
I think it's about a 'good boy' (maybe Alex was talking about his life after fame?) who has found a new group of people/friends. He knows they are toxic - they snort coke and have different values than his set of 'calculations' (& arithmetic) but he succumbs to pressure, anyway. (This rings true with what Andy said once about the reason for leaving the band , that he didn't want to be involved in the drugs/party lifestyle?) They influence not only his lifestyle but even his thoughts. He's become what he's hated. ("All the weekend rock stars are practising their lines") He does whatever they ask of him. He's the new shiny toy. He's embarrassed and ashamed at himself for playing into their hands but he secretly enjoys the attention as well. But then they discard him and he realises, what he knew all along anyway. He's sitting in his bed of 'nettles' or REGRETS.