A Perfect Circle – The Outsider

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  My Interpretation:Also the lyrics seem to slightly impose a disorder of some kind.The repeated use of the world suicidal and this :"Medicated, drama queen,
  picture perfect, numb belligerence
  Narcissistic, drama queen, craving fame and all it's decadence" ,i knew a lot of addicts but they were always either asking for help or not. And asking for help ,for addicts,means getting it,since it is a visible thing,unlike a mental ilness,which could be characterized as begging for attention through self pity.

  Flag I1334Ion November 17, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:It's a dialogue between two people,the one who's suffering,and the one that doesn't understand the problem and is trying to fix it as bluntly as it can.

  Flag I1334Ion November 17, 2012   Link

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  Lyric Correction:Ok I'm not totally sure but I think the lyrics are "Coalesce, coalesce!" not "over this, over this"

  Flag nicjlaubon June 29, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:I think looking at it as someone who's strictly suicidal is taking the lyrics far too literally. Given that the title is "The Outsider" and the fact that the entire album is about addiction, I think that this song sticks with the theme. Most of the songs have been through the eyes of the addict, more or less, but this song is different, being from the point of view of "The Outsider" (someone who watching the addict from the outside).
  
  This is a song of the frustration of watching someone you know self destruct, and, in the eyes of the outsider, acting selfishly and attention seeking by hurting themselves and others with their addictions. It can be incredibly frustrating for someone to watch a person basically killing themselves with their own selfishness, hence the "pounding at a fault line." He feels like he's done everything he can to help this person and he's reached the breaking point since they've done nothing but take it for granted, so this song is him throwing his hands into the air saying, "I give up, I'm done with you."

  Flag Saiaion June 20, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:This song kinda illustrates the frustration of watching someone close to you throw their life away through self-destructive habits. It's easy to get mad at a person in that situation... it's very frustrating to watch someone who is close to you "disconnect and self-destruct", despite all advice, and sometimes you just wanna grab them by the fucking throat and shake some fucking sense into them. Or just leave them. I think the singer is feeling those frustrated emotions, and fear of losing the person, moreso than anger and hatred... just frustration.
  Great song.
  Lyrically, very similar to Pearl Jam's "Save You". Even if you dont like Pearl Jam, the song Save You has the same kinda message, and it's a bit less obscure than this one.
  Great song, great band. I love APC's darkness...

  Flag Tig45on May 15, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Going w/ the drug theme of the album -
  this song is watching someone with a addiction suffer/die
  "one bullet at a time" - one pill at a time, one hit.. one shoot up.. etc. etc.
  Just my interpretation

  Flag susieloo28on April 23, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I don't think it necessarily is only about someone who is suicidal, or pretending to be. I've watched a lot of people self destruct. Repeatedly choose to do things that wreck them. Alcoholism, abusive relationships, pushing people who care about them away. If you've seen people with such extreme self destructive tendencies, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. It's horrible to watch from the outside, and that's why I think that's what this song is about to Maynard. "Why would I want to watch you?" I feel you Maynard.

  Flag FutureInkon April 05, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Maynard specifically explained the meaning of this song before they played it during a acoustic session - he said the following: "I had a friend who had some chemical problems. I ended up meeting his brother and his brother was so out of touch with what he was going through....so this song is kinda sung through the perspective of the brother who doesn't understand what his loved one is going through and in a way has no compassion for what he is going through...this song is called the outsider because that brother is standing on the outside of a understanding and doesn't get it. This song is from the perspective of someone who is ignorant and doesn't have the time or patience to understand what their loved one is going through."

  Flag krazeeeyezkillahon March 23, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Its about injecting heroin, "one bullet at a time" - "one shot(of heroin) at a time" that's my guess. Relates to anyone who is watching a loved on disconnect from reality by shooting heroin or any drugs for that matter.

  Flag Toolzon February 23, 2012   Link

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• +4
  General Comment:I'm pretty sure this song is about watching someone struggling with an addiction that is potentially lethal, such as heroin or cocaine, and being completely frustrated with their lack of acknowledgment for the whole situation. He's trying to get their attention to show his disgust in them for throwing their life away for what's basically a poison. He's frustrated that they've gotten so wrapped up in the addiction, they've almost become someone else. The person is unintentionally suicidal, at some point he/she will overdose by accident, or the drug will just take it's toll on their body. The outsider's(singer/narrator) intolerance of the person who they are singing to's lifestyle. I think it's vague enough to be applied to a multitude of situations, but given the album's name is Thirteenth Step, I feel it's meaning for the band members has to do with the self destructive lifestyle of the addict.

  Flag Machineuniton January 23, 2012   Link

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    I totally agree with you. I think you have the best response and that is exactly what I was thinking. I have an additional idea to add. I wanted to just twist it around by saying that I also think that this song could be from the addictive individual's point of view rather than a sober person looking at their addictive friend. The addict could be looking at themselves as an outsider, thinking that they do not recognize this monster they've become. Almost as though they are looking in the mirror: their reflection is their conscious and the body they're in is their destructive self. They know deep down (like their conscious) that they are being destructive and yet they continue to cause more harm to their mind, body and life. It is as if they are yelling at their own self trying to break free from this addictive behavior; like they are trying to scare it away. The conscious tries to convince the addict that if they continue on their destructive path, they will die sooner than later, which essentially defeats life's purpose. Sorry, this is all probably confusing, jumbled, long, and boring, but I immediately thought about this after listening to this song, so I had to get my ideas out.

    Flag DAREtoBOOGIE23on February 13, 2012  

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