While there's definite parallels to religion and adopting a faith only to find it now acts as a chain, I think it also has some potential for interpretation as a metaphor for corporate work culture and the soulless humdrum of life under capitalism.
"You're just another number. Cross it out whenever you don't behave" because your boss doesn't care about you, you're just another number, expendable, replaceable.
"Someone get the doctor, he knows what to do. Throw some bones and mumble, the devil's inside of you" because if you're not happy living like this, they won't admit it's because it sucks, it must be a you problem, it's a mental health issue
"Get back in your tiny boxes, even if you can't we say you can" because even if you apply for disability because you're unable to work, they might just decide yes you can, back to the cubicle with you
"When you thought you were free you didn't need a reason to survive" because back when you hadn't found yourself in this situation you were just looking forward to the promise of what life might bring, but now it only disappoints, and you need it to mean something, or what's the point?
"Another day has turned to ashes" because day after day is lost to the daily grind of merely keeping your head above water, when you wanted to pursue your passions, and every day you get closer to death feels wasted
I don't know if that was at all in Ronnie's mind when he wrote these lyrics, but given heavy metal's history with the struggles of the working class, and how much it would apply to my own life if it was, I like to think of it as that
While there's definite parallels to religion and adopting a faith only to find it now acts as a chain, I think it also has some potential for interpretation as a metaphor for corporate work culture and the soulless humdrum of life under capitalism.
"You're just another number. Cross it out whenever you don't behave" because your boss doesn't care about you, you're just another number, expendable, replaceable.
"Someone get the doctor, he knows what to do. Throw some bones and mumble, the devil's inside of you" because if you're not happy living like this, they won't admit it's because it sucks, it must be a you problem, it's a mental health issue
"Get back in your tiny boxes, even if you can't we say you can" because even if you apply for disability because you're unable to work, they might just decide yes you can, back to the cubicle with you
"When you thought you were free you didn't need a reason to survive" because back when you hadn't found yourself in this situation you were just looking forward to the promise of what life might bring, but now it only disappoints, and you need it to mean something, or what's the point?
"Another day has turned to ashes" because day after day is lost to the daily grind of merely keeping your head above water, when you wanted to pursue your passions, and every day you get closer to death feels wasted
I don't know if that was at all in Ronnie's mind when he wrote these lyrics, but given heavy metal's history with the struggles of the working class, and how much it would apply to my own life if it was, I like to think of it as that