This song is obviously about losing someone to substance abuse. The lyrics are wrong on this site ( "detours, fences," really? Lol, we figured the lyrics out over 30 years ago when it played on the radio every couple of hours. I liked this song ever since it debuted. Caring about people who struggle with addiction isn't new. )
'Joey, baby, don't get crazy" (don't overuse; keep it under control, etc. )
"Pee to expenses" (Pee as in 'Piss Test. The substance(es) cost more money than Joey could afford.
"I get defensive." Joey was probably borrowing money from her and was probably dependent on her for money.
"I know you've heard it all before, so I don't say it anymore." (Joey was probably told (outright begged even) by many people to 'get help', 'take better care of yourself', 'be normal again' )
"I just stand by and let you fight your secret war." (I don't think that Joey ever told anyone what drove him to addiction(wouldn't or couldn't). So the songwriter could only helplessly watch it happen)
"And though I used to wonder why,
I used to cry till I was dry; still, sometimes I get a strange pain inside."
"Oh, Joey, if you're hurtin', so am I." (Being there for someone)
"Joey, Honey, I got the money. (It sounds like Joey was at the end of his rope, and she didn't know what to do besides give him money that she said that she didn't have)
"All is forgiven, listen, listen." (It sounds like she was telling him to stop hurting himself)
"And if I seem to be confused, I didn't mean to be with you." ( I think that Joey tried to explain to her how things needed to work for himself to kick, and she agreed with him. Although she still didn't know exactly what he meant)
"And when you said I scared you, well, I guess you scared me too." (This could mean many things. Caring vs. Not caring?)
"But we got lucky once before, and I don't wanna close the door." (Something worked once, but after a while, it stopped working, but she didn't let that path go)
"And if you're somewhere out there, passed out on the floor." (She never knew where Joey was at all times, but it was a safe bet that he was using)
"Oh Joey, I'm not angry anymore." (What happened between them besides the never-ending money trouble?)
And if I seem to be confused, I didn't mean to be with you.
And when you said I scared you, well, I guess you scared me too.
But if it's love you're looking for, well, I can give a little more. (There's something about what worked once)
And if you're somewhere drunk and
passed out on the floor.
This song is obviously about losing someone to substance abuse. The lyrics are wrong on this site ( "detours, fences," really? Lol, we figured the lyrics out over 30 years ago when it played on the radio every couple of hours. I liked this song ever since it debuted. Caring about people who struggle with addiction isn't new. )
'Joey, baby, don't get crazy" (don't overuse; keep it under control, etc. )
"Pee to expenses" (Pee as in 'Piss Test. The substance(es) cost more money than Joey could afford.
"I get defensive." Joey was probably borrowing money from her and was probably dependent on her for money.
"I know you've heard it all before, so I don't say it anymore." (Joey was probably told (outright begged even) by many people to 'get help', 'take better care of yourself', 'be normal again' )
"I just stand by and let you fight your secret war." (I don't think that Joey ever told anyone what drove him to addiction(wouldn't or couldn't). So the songwriter could only helplessly watch it happen)
"And though I used to wonder why, I used to cry till I was dry; still, sometimes I get a strange pain inside."
"Oh, Joey, if you're hurtin', so am I." (Being there for someone)
"Joey, Honey, I got the money. (It sounds like Joey was at the end of his rope, and she didn't know what to do besides give him money that she said that she didn't have)
"All is forgiven, listen, listen." (It sounds like she was telling him to stop hurting himself)
"And if I seem to be confused, I didn't mean to be with you." ( I think that Joey tried to explain to her how things needed to work for himself to kick, and she agreed with him. Although she still didn't know exactly what he meant)
"And when you said I scared you, well, I guess you scared me too." (This could mean many things. Caring vs. Not caring?)
"But we got lucky once before, and I don't wanna close the door." (Something worked once, but after a while, it stopped working, but she didn't let that path go)
"And if you're somewhere out there, passed out on the floor." (She never knew where Joey was at all times, but it was a safe bet that he was using)
"Oh Joey, I'm not angry anymore." (What happened between them besides the never-ending money trouble?)
And if I seem to be confused, I didn't mean to be with you. And when you said I scared you, well, I guess you scared me too.
But if it's love you're looking for, well, I can give a little more. (There's something about what worked once)
And if you're somewhere drunk and passed out on the floor.
"Oh Joey, I'm not angry anymore."
angry anymore angry anymore