First off, I'd like to say this is one of my favorite songs ever, and some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard. It's a wall of guitar noise, but it's gorgeous. How does that work?
Anyway, I think it's about trying drug addiction myself. "Pick your pockets full of sorrow, and run away with me tomorrow" sounds to me like something a dealer would tell a new user (though I've never used drugs and have never had any contact with a dealer). "And I fail, but when I can, I will" says to me "I can't kick it now, but as soon as I work up the courage, I will". The "Mother weep for years I'm missing" verse starts off as remorse about addiction, but at the end of it the narrator realizes he or she can't get over their addiction. I do think the song ends on a happy note, though... the narrator realizes the drug is making him something he isn't, that he just wants to be himself and not be controlled by the drug, and plans to kick his habit. I don't know, just a few thoughts, because as we all know Corgan's lyrics are ambiguous. And always amazing, too.
I also think the song structure represents drug use. The quiet introduction is shooting up, the loud bit is the drug screwing with your mind, and so forth.
First off, I'd like to say this is one of my favorite songs ever, and some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard. It's a wall of guitar noise, but it's gorgeous. How does that work?
Anyway, I think it's about trying drug addiction myself. "Pick your pockets full of sorrow, and run away with me tomorrow" sounds to me like something a dealer would tell a new user (though I've never used drugs and have never had any contact with a dealer). "And I fail, but when I can, I will" says to me "I can't kick it now, but as soon as I work up the courage, I will". The "Mother weep for years I'm missing" verse starts off as remorse about addiction, but at the end of it the narrator realizes he or she can't get over their addiction. I do think the song ends on a happy note, though... the narrator realizes the drug is making him something he isn't, that he just wants to be himself and not be controlled by the drug, and plans to kick his habit. I don't know, just a few thoughts, because as we all know Corgan's lyrics are ambiguous. And always amazing, too. I also think the song structure represents drug use. The quiet introduction is shooting up, the loud bit is the drug screwing with your mind, and so forth.