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A blackened wick is what remains
The flame was blown out just recently
Although the candle hadn't burned down to the stick
It won't be lit again, the day won't be so bright
We don't know what she may have been
All we know is what she left behind
An apartment cluttered with children's toys,
Photos of good times
In the bedroom, there's sheets on the windows
There's a four poster bed for a reason
There's a box on the floor full of secrets
It won't be opened
Here older boys and girls would play
All inhibitions were left behind
As the door would close, her face began to shine
This was her finest hour, this was her finest time
Now, she's gone, and it's not gonna be alright, not for me
She's gone, but not forgotten, she's still here
In all those years she touched so many lives
Who's gonna watch the little girl she left behind?
Carol Anne stands alone in the school yard
All the other children have gone
After waiting for hours,
She can't understand why her mother left her sad
In the darkness she sees definition
In the silence, she hears someone calling
After nightmares, she lies in bed screaming
But there's no reaction
There's no one listening, there's no one
Now, she's gone, and it's never gonna be alright, not for me,
She's gone
The flame was blown out just recently
Although the candle hadn't burned down to the stick
It won't be lit again, the day won't be so bright
We don't know what she may have been
All we know is what she left behind
An apartment cluttered with children's toys,
Photos of good times
In the bedroom, there's sheets on the windows
There's a four poster bed for a reason
There's a box on the floor full of secrets
It won't be opened
Here older boys and girls would play
All inhibitions were left behind
As the door would close, her face began to shine
This was her finest hour, this was her finest time
Now, she's gone, and it's not gonna be alright, not for me
She's gone, but not forgotten, she's still here
In all those years she touched so many lives
Who's gonna watch the little girl she left behind?
Carol Anne stands alone in the school yard
All the other children have gone
After waiting for hours,
She can't understand why her mother left her sad
In the darkness she sees definition
In the silence, she hears someone calling
After nightmares, she lies in bed screaming
But there's no reaction
There's no one listening, there's no one
Now, she's gone, and it's never gonna be alright, not for me,
She's gone
Lyrics submitted by AtomicGarden
Track duration: 02:57
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I interpret it as being about one of Mike's friends who had a daughter and committed suicide or OD'd. I think there are a lot of double meanings - drug and prostitution references and references to the friend who is dead. This song extremely raw and emotional, you can hear the pain / anger in Mike's voice so I think it must have been someone pretty close. The chorus "It's not gonna be alright, not for me" love it, big "fuck you" to all those insincere twats out there who pat you on the back and say "There there, it'll be alright." Fuck you, no it won't be alright, she's gone forever, it'll never be alright, not for him, not for the daughter and not for anyone else who was close to her. I like how it's not just sad, it's angry too. It's alright to be pissed off at her for leaving everyone and not getting her shit together, pissed off that no one can help an addict if they don't want it, or even just pissed off at life for being so cruel and uncaring. It's especially hard for us atheists (I think it's pretty clear that there are some strong atheist themes in NOFX songs) because we don't delude ourselves into thinking there is some magical happy land after we die where we get to see our loved ones again. Some people just can't deal with thoughts like that, that this is IT, maybe they're weak willed or lazy or just want to fit in or just never question anything about society like so many of the other sheep... Doesn't really matter, those of us with the courage to face reality have it rough sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing people who have faith, I can't disprove them, I'm glad it's there for them when they need to look for something outside themselves for help... we all need this sometimes and if that is easiest for them to deal with things then I'm happy for them... I do get pissed off at religions / political agendas that exploit this faith though, punk forever, fuck the system! But, I digress...
On a more personal level, this song always makes me think about my ex-girlfriend's twin sister who committed suicide. Everyone who knew her loved her and she just threw it all away, so selfish. It's so sad that she's gone and she'll never be forgotten, she's still here... but that doesn't stop me from hating her sometimes, it's truly a despicable thing to do and it still pisses me off. It's just this wad of anger / sadness and it's hard to know what to do with that kind of emotion. I'd probably still be dating my ex if her twin was alive, but it's too much right now, emotionally she can't handle a relationship. Yeah, I'm allowed some selfishness, but at least I butt out and gave her all the space she needs, I hope someday we can try again, but there's no way to know. The only thing I can do is be here for her when she needs a shoulder to cry on. Sometimes I'm just blown away when I think about if it's this hard for me, how hard must it be for my ex? Mind blowing how strong of a person she is, I've only seen her cry twice.
Line by line:
A blackened wick is what remains
The flame was blown out just recently
Although the candle hadn't burned down to the stick
It won't be lit again, the day won't be so bright
---
Reference to cooking up. I take the candle to also refer to the friends body, the flame being her "soul" or life, now it's just a body. He probably wrote it right after she died hence the "just recently". She was probably young, untimely death "hadn't burned down to the stick" which makes me think she committed suicide or OD'd. It sounds like she was a good person people enjoyed being around.
We don't know what she may have been
All we know is what she left behind
An apartment cluttered with children's toys,
Photos of good times
---
More references to the child and the mess she left behind in the lives of those she was close to. As someone else said, alluding that she was a good person, kept pictures, people had good times with her.
In the bedroom, there's sheets on the windows
There's a four poster bed for a reason
There's a box on the floor full of secrets
It won't be opened
---
Sheets on the windows indicates her house was a place to cook up. Four posted bed indicates sex being offered in exchange for sharing drugs or just prostitution in general. Box on the floor is likely drug paraphernalia, spoons, tie-offs, needles, etc, but I also like someone else mentioned it could be a double meaning for her head, all her secrets have died with her.
Here older boys and girls would play
All inhibitions were left behind
---
Drugs / sex.
As the door would close, her face began to shine
This was her finest hour, this was her finest time
---
Someone with drugs coming over, face shining in anticipation of getting her fix. She was probably great in bed if she was able to make a living or get her fix using sex (finest hour - sex, finest time - her fix)
I think the rest of the song is pretty straightforward, obviously about her daughter and all her friends and family she left too soon.
A blackened wick is what remains
The flame was blown out just recently
Although the candle hadn't burned down to the stick
It won't be lit again, the day won't be so bright
--While this is a reference unexpected death, it's also a reference to drug use. The candle isn't lit again, and it's not burnt all the way means someone died and will never be back again to lite the candle. Also, when you cook heroin or coke having a candle lit is a lot easier then using a lighter all the time.
We don't know what she may have been
All we know is what she left behind
An apartment cluttered with children's toys,
Photos of good times
-- She was a parent and probably a nice person. She kept photographs.
In the bedroom, there's sheets on the windows
There's a four poster bed for a reason
-- If you've ever been in a crackhouse, the windows are always covered because people get really paranoid when high. The four poster bed can be a reference to drugs, or prositiution. Which are usually hand in hand. You'll sleep with someone for crack/heroin.
There's a box on the floor full of secrets
It won't be opened
--The box is a reference to drugs. Usually cigar boxes were kept around the house with needles, pipes, lighters, etc... Since they died, it won't be open again, just as the candle won't be lit again.
Here older boys and girls would play
All inhibitions were left behind
As the door would close, her face began to shine
This was her finest hour, this was her finest time
--This sounds like a prostitution reference, but getting high, and having sex was probaby something she was good at, and enjoyed.
Now, she's gone, and it's not gonna be alright, not for me
She's gone, but not forgotten, she's still here
-- She was a friend and will always be remembered
In all those years she touched so many lives
Who's gonna watch the little girl she left behind?
--Reference to her kid, and the her personality.
Carol Anne stands alone in the school yard
All the other children have gone
After waiting for hours,
She can't understand why her mother left her sad
--The was at school when her mom died, and doesn't understand her death.
In the darkness she sees definition
In the silence, she hears someone calling
After nightmares, she lies in bed screaming
But there's no reaction
There's no one listening, there's no one
Now, she's gone, and it's never gonna be alright, not for me,
She's gone
--Touch on the sad fact of a kid having their partent die at a young age, and being alone.
I think there's a point to be made. Drug addicts are not always horrible people, but in a horrible situation. Both of my parents were really nice people for the most part, and did the best they could for their kids, but it still sucks they were drug addicts and had kids. My mom's best friend OD'd with a kid that was 11, and had no dad, and he had to live with us. He was a tough kid, but would often wake up in the middle of the night crying. Reminds me of this song.
We divorced and she ended up dating this scumbag who beat her and got her back on heroin. I took full custody of my daughter. Its so sad to see my ex like this. So sad to see our little girl without her mom. For my daughters sake, it is my worst fear that her mom O.D.'s or does something stupid and dies.
I had heard this song a few times but never paid attention to the lyrics. The other day it was on and for some reason I could hear it very well. I could hear it so well that it punched me in the stomach. I hate to admit, but it brought tears to my eyes.
For anyone who actually read this... Please ask whomever/whatever you consider to be a higher power that she gets her shit together and becomes a mother again, and not just another sad cliché...
Every time I hear it, it reminds me of the Mother of an old friend of mine.
She had a husband and two kids.. boy & girl!
A perfect family.
She worked as a social worker helping drug addicts,
then she fell in love with one, became and addict herself, husband left her, kids became custom to drugs themselves in their early-teens!
Fast forward a few years, and she commited murder to get her fix! Kids had to sell the house and moved to another city. I do not know how the kids are today! Hopefully good! The Mother is serving 21 years
Of course Its not what these lyrics is exactly about, but for me this song reminds me to much of that family
(Oh, all typos are excused as English is not my native language)