Song To Say Goodbye Lyrics

Lyric discussion by StoriesinSongs.com 

Cover art for Song To Say Goodbye lyrics by Placebo

This song could either be about a protagonist talking to himself or to a dear friend.

The accusations that are made in the first lines probably aim at getting the attention of someone who's so lost in their delirium because it's very hard to get to them.

So you insult them to use their emotions as a gateway for what you have to say hoping some things will make their way into your friend's consciousness.

So after getting their attention, the protagonist relates with them which shows his empathy 'I'm well aware of how it aches'.

He tells his friend that he knows what they are going through but is left out 'And you still won't let me in'.

'Now I'm breaking down your door' refers to him having to use insults to break into their consciousness because he wants to help them get out of the misery they're stuck in.

And to keep their attention, the protagonist insults them some more: 'You lying, trying waste of space' showing for the first time how the protagonist himself is feeling about the situation of his friend 'Though I don't like you anymore'.

Then the protagonist reminds him of the luck and happiness they once had until something tragic happened 'Before our innocence was lost' that they both had to get through.

The second verse starting with 'You were Mother Nature's son' highlights the person they once were as addressed in the chorus.

And once again the protagonist confesses what he's doing: 'Now I'm trying to wake you up' (same with breaking down his door).

But what changes is that he tries to get his friends empathy now too: 'Cause if I don't we'll both end up With just your songs to say goodbye'.

So he tells his friend basically the ending and that his actions do not only affect him but everyone around him.

It's a song about how friends could and should save each other's life when you see that your friend's life is threatened by the things he does (be it drug abuse, alcohol or depression.)

My Interpretation