I think this song may be a reference to Eldritch's attempts to overcome his amphetamine addiction. Famously, some of the long and short term effects of meth abuse are hallucinations and mental instability, which would key in with some of the below ideas.
'I'm throwing off the shadow of a better man now'
Amphetamine use may increase the user's sense of self worth and make performing on stage easier, so Eldritch is suggesting his drug-addled self is a 'better man', but that he hides in its shadow out of necessity.
'I don't exist when you don't see me
I don't exist when you're not here'
I think the 'you' in this song is Eldritch's drugged-up version of himself. So, in this context, he has become vacant of his old self to the point of reliance. I also like to imagine it may be a reference to his hallucinations.
'You can lease the peace of mind'
Probably the biggest indication that this song may be about drug usage. A lease is a time-limited agreement, and it has to end at some point. Equally, drugs feel good, but there comes a point where you either have to stop, or give in.
'You never learned
You bought me
Everything and less'
Crucially, the word 'bought' is used here, not 'brought'. As in, the narrator has been purchased by somebody else, becoming 'everything and less'.
I think this song may be a reference to Eldritch's attempts to overcome his amphetamine addiction. Famously, some of the long and short term effects of meth abuse are hallucinations and mental instability, which would key in with some of the below ideas.
'I'm throwing off the shadow of a better man now'
Amphetamine use may increase the user's sense of self worth and make performing on stage easier, so Eldritch is suggesting his drug-addled self is a 'better man', but that he hides in its shadow out of necessity.
'I don't exist when you don't see me I don't exist when you're not here'
I think the 'you' in this song is Eldritch's drugged-up version of himself. So, in this context, he has become vacant of his old self to the point of reliance. I also like to imagine it may be a reference to his hallucinations.
'You can lease the peace of mind'
Probably the biggest indication that this song may be about drug usage. A lease is a time-limited agreement, and it has to end at some point. Equally, drugs feel good, but there comes a point where you either have to stop, or give in.
'You never learned You bought me Everything and less'
Crucially, the word 'bought' is used here, not 'brought'. As in, the narrator has been purchased by somebody else, becoming 'everything and less'.