Wasteland

Here's a bit from an interview that I found from unrated magazine (http://www.unratedmagazine.com/bios/10years_jessehasek.cfm) with Jesse Hasek, I think it should answer some questions...

"TIM: Cool. Can you tell me a little bit about the video-making process that I know you guys recently did for "Wasteland?"

JESSE: Yeah, the first time around.We've been asked many times why did we do it over. The first time around we had less of a budget and it was just trying to get a video done and it didn't really represent the song the way we wanted it to. And, then we met up with Kevin Kerslake the second time around. He's done a bunch of Nirvana videos, Chili Peppers videos, Stone Temple Pilots videos. He's a great guy. He really has good vision. We explained to him what the content of the song was about. Which, is life and overcoming struggles and adversities and to make it through life as part of the growing process. And, we came to the conclusion that instead of showing teenage angst or the very typical cliché American video, we wanted to show the U.S. social awareness of the struggles that other countries go through - that other people go through and how easy we have it compared to their lives."

Where he says "We explained to him what the content of the song was about. Which, is life and overcoming struggles and adversities and to make it through life as part of the growing process.", that answers it right there.

Has any of you ever considered the fact that this song might actually have two meanings? There seems to be consistancy in the two interpretations people have. And if you relate the fish out of water video to the heroin addiction interpretation they seem to coincide very strongly. Both issues are intense and very powerful and send a message. Arguing about which is right might actually be a complete waste of time because maybe they are both right. Who cares what the initial intent was when the song was written. The lyrics vividly and correctly describe two equally important stories and the band released a video for each. Accept both interpretations or at the very least accept the fact that this amazing song can relate to so many people. When it really comes down to it, you will relate to and interpret this song how you want to anyways so it doesn't matter who's right and who's wrong. It is an amazing song, let's leave it at that.

Guys.........The meaning of this song.....and the feeling it gives me, is so clear.

For almost 2 years i was a heroin addict, i was miserable, often going through withdrawls, almost died a few times, i cannot describe in words the pain and suffering ive felt....but this song does. To me this song describes the struggle i had inside me in order to quit.....i have been clean for 3 months now....and it seems the words fit perfectly

This song describes the withdrawl......how badly i needed someones help........how many times i asked myself if im strong enough.....the last verse describes the act of shooting up....and ends with "limbs tied....skin tight"

I know not too many people know about heroin and its withdrawl, or the sickness, but i believe its so important to be aware of, its not like any other drug, when ur sick u feel like you need it to live, like air or water..... Also the term wasteland is often used to describe a heroin addict.

most def a song about heroin addiction. i mean, the withdraw and cold sweats, and "heave the silver hollow silver"- needles are silver, and needles are hollow. and he refers to the needles as piercing thru another victem. a victem of heroin addiction. great song tho.

Crouched over *withdrawal symptoms

Living in fear *drug paranoia

But signs were not really that scarce *holes in the arms, bags under eyes

But I will not Hide you through this I want you to help And please see The bleeding heart perched on my shirt *this is basically saying that the writer will not do the work, the addict has to help, but the writer does care

withdraw Hide in cold sweat Quivering lips *obvious "withdraw"al symptoms

Ignore remorse *still wanting more (probably heroine), though it has done this to you

Crowned hopeless The article read living wasteland *much more likely to be an article about drugs than this specific person

Heave the silver hollow sliver Piercing through another victim *injecting heroine

Turn and tremble be judgmental Ignorant to all the symbols *once again (tremble, cold sweat, quiver) withdrawal and abuse signs

Blind the face with beauty paste *this is confusing, but i think it means that the abuser is giving everything "beauty" and blinding the true individual beauty in the "face"

Limbs tied, skin tight *simply refering to a preparation for doing heroine

Self inflicted his perdition *abuser brought this hell upon himself, obviously

I think this so is about war, in particular, this war we're in right now or the Vietnam war. i think it's about how on the TV, news, and internet we see pictures and articles of the horrib things going on, detah, war, destruction. Everyone tries to censor it, but the person singing is saying if you censor it how will they know what it's like out there? They won't take it seriously, and one day they'll find otu anyway, so what's the point in censoring it? So this guy is changing his mind about censorship for probably his child. hence the chorus "Change my attemt, good intentions, Should/could I?"

No I haven't. The point of this website is interpreting and discussing the meaning to a song. That is what I've done. This is the only song I can see 2 very distinct meanings to. Having gone through a drug addiction myself the meaning I first thought of when hearing it was the one you posted almost to the T so don't think I disagree with you. But having read other people's thoughts on it I would have to agree with them as well. It's odd that there are 2 meanings so diverse but that doesn't mean it can't happen. I just get sick of 2 sides arguing over who is right about a song. Posting your opinion is one thing, fighting that it's the only right possibility is ridiculous. Unless you personally conversed with the writer of the song and he told you the meaning, there is no guarantee that any of these posts are correct. THAT is the purpose of this website, tossing around probably incorrect interpretations of songs that have had significant impact on us.

"So I did. And here it is: http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=143156 I thought if he was going to say anything about it at the concert it was going to clear up confusions but in my opinion it kinda makes it more confusing." That song is about drugs a guy coming back from war! And turning to drugs needle in his arm just like this song! The meaning is much easier to fallow and understand so if what you said is true him saying this is the song we should look up to figure what his means then it's about drugs!

We explained to him what the content of the song was about. Which, is life and overcoming struggles and adversities and to make it through life as part of the growing process. And, we came to the conclusion that instead of showing teenage angst or the very typical cliché American video, we wanted to show the U.S. social awareness of the struggles that other countries go through - that other people go through and how easy we have it compared to their lives. -Jess Hasek

The two major interpretations seem to be heroin addiction and war with innocent people. The line "Heave the silver hollow sliver piercing through another victim" could mean a heroin needle or a bullet. I noticed that particular line people were having trouble with and I thought I'd put my opinion in :)