In interpret this song as being more about people who try to run away from their problems, and the ensuing mental health problems that tend to follow.
I interpret the song as being a story about a woman who has run away from her problems for a better life in Hollywood (like so many young people do). But all she finds is a cold-hearted wasteland full of people who 'drag you down' ("Strangers in this town, raise you up just to cut you down").
People try to run away from their problems only to find that you can't do that. Your problems always follow you, no matter how rich or famous you become, your problems remain, or get worse, as appears to be the case in this song.
I see the song as suggesting a descent into drug addiction, and the craziness that descent can conjure up in a person's mind.
"Did you hear the notes, all those static codes
In the radio abyss?"
...suggests a level of 'psychosis' brought on by chronic drug use.
"Were you safe and warm in your coat of arms
With your fingers in a fist"
Suggests, probably heroin addiction. Angela's fingers are in a fist (trying to find a vein, and maybe even overdosing), and she is 'warm in her coat of arms', the warmth that swells over you from a heroin high.
There is also the suggestion that she is in a cheap hotel room.
"Vacancy, hotel room..."
...and of course the constant throughout the song:
"Home at last"
Suggests the warmth of Heroin taking her to her final destination. That is, death is taking her home, away from the pain of life.
In interpret this song as being more about people who try to run away from their problems, and the ensuing mental health problems that tend to follow.
I interpret the song as being a story about a woman who has run away from her problems for a better life in Hollywood (like so many young people do). But all she finds is a cold-hearted wasteland full of people who 'drag you down' ("Strangers in this town, raise you up just to cut you down").
People try to run away from their problems only to find that you can't do that. Your problems always follow you, no matter how rich or famous you become, your problems remain, or get worse, as appears to be the case in this song.
I see the song as suggesting a descent into drug addiction, and the craziness that descent can conjure up in a person's mind.
"Did you hear the notes, all those static codes In the radio abyss?"
...suggests a level of 'psychosis' brought on by chronic drug use.
"Were you safe and warm in your coat of arms With your fingers in a fist"
Suggests, probably heroin addiction. Angela's fingers are in a fist (trying to find a vein, and maybe even overdosing), and she is 'warm in her coat of arms', the warmth that swells over you from a heroin high.
There is also the suggestion that she is in a cheap hotel room.
"Vacancy, hotel room..."
...and of course the constant throughout the song:
"Home at last"
Suggests the warmth of Heroin taking her to her final destination. That is, death is taking her home, away from the pain of life.
It's a very sad song.