I think it's mostly about the disappointments of working in the record industry and a desire to be rid of it. It also talks of a love affair which coincided with the upward trajectory of his stardom, but faltered along with it.
In the first three verses he complains of being treated like a slave and tortured by being publicly hung by the feet. He's wasted his best years in painful public humiliation. He likens himself to Billy Name, an artist in his own right, but more of a satellite around the famous names of the era.
He admits he's hampered his own career ("filled my pockets with sand") and can read the disappointment in his lover's face.
In the fifth verse he explains that the love affair is over, she couldn't provide him with the emotional prop he needed. There's no hint of recrimination, just sadness.
In the final verse he admits he doesn't like being pushed around by record execs and wants to get out of the business. But all through the song he is too scared to take decisive action, whether in love or the music industry, he is largely a passive player in his own life.
I think it's mostly about the disappointments of working in the record industry and a desire to be rid of it. It also talks of a love affair which coincided with the upward trajectory of his stardom, but faltered along with it.
In the first three verses he complains of being treated like a slave and tortured by being publicly hung by the feet. He's wasted his best years in painful public humiliation. He likens himself to Billy Name, an artist in his own right, but more of a satellite around the famous names of the era.
He admits he's hampered his own career ("filled my pockets with sand") and can read the disappointment in his lover's face.
In the fifth verse he explains that the love affair is over, she couldn't provide him with the emotional prop he needed. There's no hint of recrimination, just sadness.
In the final verse he admits he doesn't like being pushed around by record execs and wants to get out of the business. But all through the song he is too scared to take decisive action, whether in love or the music industry, he is largely a passive player in his own life.