The lyrics to through the dark seem to reference several film tropes and cinematic imagery, rather than a single specific movie. The references to “Sicilian men” and “brides in black shawls” could evoke scenes from classic mafia or Italian films, possibly drawing from films like The Godfather, which deals with Sicilian traditions and family honor. The imagery of a “silver-screen starlet,” “black and white blonde,” and a “smoke-filled room” could be nodding to the noir or old Hollywood genre, referencing anonymous blonde actresses who were often central to those films but remembered more for their image than their names. The idea of repeated televised lines and the feeling of having “seen the film before” might suggest commentary on familiar stories that we’ve seen repeated in cinema, especially those involving violence, loss, and tradition. The mixture of personal emotion and cinematic elements suggests a blending of personal experience with iconic film imagery.

Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.

High life

This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone). And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.

Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.