The first part of this song deals with selling out in a sense. You have so much potential, and you end up doing something like hotel art or commercials. On the flip side, you can eat, so… I guess it also kind of comments on growing up in general now—yeah, I miss A LOT of shows, but I’m working the job I want to work and I don’t chain smoke cigarettes. I’m okay with that, but there’s certainly some regret at the same time.
The second part is talking directly about my mother’s long, long fight with cancer—that she obviously eventually lost—and my friend’s father’s suicide. I had a million occasions to say goodbye, and I only used about 1,000. Death was welcome at that point.
My friend, on the other hand, didn’t get that chance. Not in the least. It came as a shock and I’m sure added to how fucked up she already was.
So my question, of course, is what’s better and what’s worse? Is there really even an answer? Prolonged pain versus quick, shattering pain. It’s like the band-aid effect.
The end of my part and Collin’s part deal with this asinine ideology called “CrimeThnk” (or something), where stealing from big companies is a way of “sticking it to the man”. Newsflash: if you get busted (and you will, you awkward thief), you’ll be losing out even more than before. Is a stolen Milky Way at Hobby Lobby really worth it? Moreover, who steals food from Hobby Lobby anyway?
lyrics
You were an artist that I failed to recognize
But now I see it, you’re strewn up in hotel bedrooms
Your art sells, but so did your soul
If I felt so compelled, I’d bring it back to earth
Right in front of you so you could see it
What is tragedy anyway?
A slow death over a long time, or a quick one without goodbye?
Or the relapse of an economy
Because selfish kids couldn’t catch a break
Sometimes it’s best just to let things boil down and soak them in.
Is this what you call changing the structure?
Just because you cheat and steal, doesn't mean that you know
What it's like to be working class. I could lie awake
And try to think of a better way to stop and reanalyze my life.
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