After 26 years, I finally decoded the meaning behind this while listening to the album while high.
QUICK SUMMARY:
It’s about a toxic relationship. The singer/narrator wants to get out of it (he “hates the place” he’s in so to speak). But when he tries to get out, something about it drags him back in and he stays, perhaps his own belief that he doesn't deserve or won't find any better.
DETAILED:
“Gone away
Who knows where you've been
You take all your lies
And wish them all away”
She’s been cheating on him. She was out and not with him, he doesn’t know where, but she is lying to him.
“I somehow doubt
We'll ever be the same
There's too much poison
And confusion on your face”
Now he’s telling her “This is never going to work. We’re different. And you’re not even listening to what I’m saying.” She either doesn’t understand, or doesn’t care (“too much poison and confusion on your face”)
“Can you feel it?
I didn't mean it
Can I see you?
What are we doin'?
I think I love you
But I ain't sayin' nothin' you don't know”
She’s feigning some kind of breakdown: pleading with him not to go and he’s getting drawn back into her web. “I didn’t mean it. I love you. But I’m not telling you something you don’t know.”
“Hold on dreamaway
You're my sweet charade”
Whenever he sings this, he’s talking to himself. “Hold onto this. This is what I’ve dreamed of. It’s my “sweet charade.”” He knows he’s lying to himself (it’s a “charade”) but he’s holding onto the falsehood of the dream.
“Take your time
Move yourself to me
Yeah I can take your lies
Until you fall away”
My words upset you. Take your time until YOU forgive ME. I’m okay with the lies you tell me.
“You know I'm lost
Hiding in your bed
No, I don't think it's wrong
It's just gone to my head”
Now she’s finding him curled up in the bed hiding, and he’s putting on his brave face “I don’t think it’s wrong. Everything is fine.”
“Hey, whatchya do to me?
Would you come back to me?
Yeah, I can't do another day
I'm not certain of it anyway
I ain't messin' with another life
Can I get along without you?
Tell me lies
That you know I need”
He's begging her to come back to him. I think at this point, he just feels weak and he knows he’ll never move on or maybe never find or deserve someone else. He can’t get along without her and he’s willing to accept and believe her lies.
After 26 years, I finally decoded the meaning behind this while listening to the album while high.
QUICK SUMMARY: It’s about a toxic relationship. The singer/narrator wants to get out of it (he “hates the place” he’s in so to speak). But when he tries to get out, something about it drags him back in and he stays, perhaps his own belief that he doesn't deserve or won't find any better.
DETAILED: “Gone away Who knows where you've been You take all your lies And wish them all away”
She’s been cheating on him. She was out and not with him, he doesn’t know where, but she is lying to him.
“I somehow doubt We'll ever be the same There's too much poison And confusion on your face”
Now he’s telling her “This is never going to work. We’re different. And you’re not even listening to what I’m saying.” She either doesn’t understand, or doesn’t care (“too much poison and confusion on your face”)
“Can you feel it? I didn't mean it Can I see you? What are we doin'? I think I love you But I ain't sayin' nothin' you don't know”
She’s feigning some kind of breakdown: pleading with him not to go and he’s getting drawn back into her web. “I didn’t mean it. I love you. But I’m not telling you something you don’t know.”
“Hold on dreamaway You're my sweet charade”
Whenever he sings this, he’s talking to himself. “Hold onto this. This is what I’ve dreamed of. It’s my “sweet charade.”” He knows he’s lying to himself (it’s a “charade”) but he’s holding onto the falsehood of the dream.
“Take your time Move yourself to me Yeah I can take your lies Until you fall away”
My words upset you. Take your time until YOU forgive ME. I’m okay with the lies you tell me.
“You know I'm lost Hiding in your bed No, I don't think it's wrong It's just gone to my head”
Now she’s finding him curled up in the bed hiding, and he’s putting on his brave face “I don’t think it’s wrong. Everything is fine.”
“Hey, whatchya do to me? Would you come back to me? Yeah, I can't do another day I'm not certain of it anyway I ain't messin' with another life Can I get along without you? Tell me lies That you know I need”
He's begging her to come back to him. I think at this point, he just feels weak and he knows he’ll never move on or maybe never find or deserve someone else. He can’t get along without her and he’s willing to accept and believe her lies.
[Edit: spacing issue]