The Smashing Pumpkins – Soothe

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  Song Meaning:This song is in no way about the keyboardist death to heroin. It was recorded well before that tragedy occurred. Love how some people assume they know everything lol.. And I agree with many that it really sounds like he's saying 'Hold me..' I have never heard the word hungry in this song..

  Flag tatty2xon January 13, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:This song is about heroin addiction and letting it go or wanting to let it go. The band had a keyboard player overdose from Heroin around this time with the drummer also using. "Jonathan Melvoin, the touring keyboardist for the Smashing Pumpkins. On July 11, 1996, Melvoin and the Smashing Pumpkins drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin were injecting heroin and drinking alcohol. It is always dangerous to mix alcohol and drugs. Often, the fatal overdosing occurs only because the drugs were mixed with another drug or alcohol. Late that night, Melvoin collapsed. Chamberlain could have helped, but he fell unconscious as well. When Chamberlain woke up early on July 12, he and the band’s security manager tried to revive Melvoin. They were unsuccessful. When the ambulance arrived, he was pronounced dead on arrival. After all of this, Chamberlin decided to go to rehab for his drug problem." So Ill interpret each part for you...
  
  I feel one of the most important but overlooked words is again after hungry. He wants it clear to the
  audience that hes hungry AGAIN. Hes craving again. Hes hungry for something better again. Hes in a really bad spot AGAIN! And its wearing him down. He cant take it. The life of constantly wanting. always
  wanting more... more drugs, more money, more happiness, more of all he doesn't have. so he wants to quit
  Hungry, hungry, again - I have many meanings for this. Hes hungry craving the drugs.
  Hungry, hungry, again - maybe hes starved by the drug. Its starving him of all life. hence hes hungry...
  When will it start to sway - When will this addiction turn for the better or worse?
  When will it start to almost break you - When will i start to lose myself in it and ruin my life?
  Hungry, hungry, again - Also hes hungry cause hes empty inside. And wants to feel more happy and alive
  Hungry, hungry, again - Hes hungry for a different life, Hungry for a change. Just hungry AKA wanting.
  I'll miss you - He doesn't want to stop hes afraid of life w/o his love but nonetheless he quits anyway
  And I dont wish you luck - He hates it with a passion though and wishes it a rough existence.
  And I forgive you - But he forgives the drug and himself and whatever bad may have came or been done on H
  And i don't wish you away, away, away - Again hes afraid to let go of it. Its a very scary thing quitting
  It'll almost break you - This is a warning to those who may get on h or know someone who is. That this
  Almost take you - drug will take everything you have and are and destroy it and change everything forever
  Almost break you - You wont know the person you have become and w/o help it will kill you. Or if you make
  Almost break you up - it out of the addiction it basically "almost broke you, almost took you"
  
  I also am not 100% sure if its hungry or hung me. Im 90% its hungry but heres an interpretation for hung me which in my opinion is the only other possible 2 words it could be.
  
  Hung me, Hung me again - This drug addiction has strung up the noose. he keeps hanging myself... as in
  Hung me, Hung me again - bad situation after bad situation. Hes killing himself over and over slowly. waiting for it to be the last time. That is where the again at the end ties in. He wants it clear that hes hung AGAIN so I feel that means he keeps repeating his failures and wants it known here we again at this same sad point in my life and its taking a toll on him. Its almost his inspiration to quit.
  
  Ok thanks hope that clarifies this amazing, beautiful and uplifting song. I am a recovering H addict and this song is just soo perfect. It expresses in words those feelings that are so hard to get out and articulate in such a simple and short manner not giving the addiction too much attention and I love it. Im 26 days free or the drug and Im finally having a good out look again!! And this song helps me to get through each day and each individual craving. Thank you Billy!!

  Flag overthestars54on April 21, 2012   Link

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    The song was written at least 4 years before this happened.

    Flag HiveNodeon September 26, 2012  
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  General Comment:I wish Billy would have released Pisces Iscariot (minus the covers--although they are superb, too) as a stand-alone album. The "B-Sides" that comprise it are far well-written enough to make up a third album prior to MCIS--even in the order they are on the disc, in my honest opinion.

  Flag pinata89on February 11, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:If you think about it Haunt me makes way more sense with the mood of the sung than "hungry".

  Flag HangingTreeson May 06, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I always thought he was saying Haunt me, Haunt Me again.
  I am probably wrong though but that's what it sounds like in my headphones.
  

  Flag HangingTreeson May 06, 2010   Link

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  My Opinion:Beautiful, disturbing song from Billy C. Totally divided as to its ultimate meaning but I'm going to throw something into the pot here by suggesting he's singing "hung me" and not "hungry" or "hold me".
  
  I'm going on the basis here that if you turn up the song very loud, as loud as your speakers will go before Frail and Bedazzled kicks in, hold me doesn't contain the "ung" bit that you can clearly hear. Could be either hungry then (but I can't hear no "gree" bit at the end of the second word). It sounds more like "hung meeeee" to my jaded ears.
  
  If that is right, it makes the song a whole lot more disturbing. Anyhow, I think Soothe is about the cold resignation of accepting someone else has moved on and has left you to your own pitiful failures. No bitterness ("I wish you luck") but the knowledge you can't really move on out of their shadow ("I don't wish you away"). The realisation is that this train of thought will "almost break you up".
  
  So I think the lyrics are:
  
  Hung me, hung me again
  Hung me, hung me again
  When will it start to sway?
  When will it start to almost break you up?
  Hung me, hung me again
  Hung me, hung me again
  I’ll miss you
  And I don’t wish you harm
  And I forgive you
  I don’t wish you away
  Away
  Away
  Away
  It will almost break you
  Almost take you
  Almost break you
  Almost break you up

  Flag Smart Alexon December 08, 2009   Link

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    oh my goodness I turned my sound up all the way and it did sound like hung me...I thought it was hungry at first, so sad and goshly amazing.

    Flag breakthedoordownon July 06, 2011  

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    It's not "almost break you up" - there's clearly no "up". And he is definitely saying "I don't wish you luck" which I think means, "I'll miss you, I won't wish you luck in killing yourself, I forgive you there is no need to do this, I don't want you to go"

    Flag HiveNodeon September 26, 2012  
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  General Comment:For a lover, or a drug, or a combination of the two. A companion for the sadness of solitude when you're craving anything but. Staring at the floor and wishing for more, the more that leaves you staring at the floor.

  Flag rozwolfhearton December 27, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:mmm i'm pretty sure it's actually hug me, hug me again
  
  i could be wrong though

  Flag Ailujon July 22, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:I'm pretty sure its "Hold me, Hold me again"

  Flag madroxon June 13, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:I always thought it was saying hold me, hold me again too. I like it better saying hold me because I feal that way towards many people. Hungry would also be fine too though

  Flag aptitudeon January 28, 2006   Link

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