I think the song is about drug addiction and a friendship gone sour:
The first verse describes an argument ending with the friend angrily storming out.
The second verse suggests that the "snow-tipped pines" (i.e. arguments/rationalizations) of the friend are weak; they are hatched from the "seed" of a "thin mind," meaning one addled by drugs.
The third verse says that it doesn't have to be this way. I don't know what the "ancient gate" refers to, but I'm guessing it's some sort of metaphor for forgiveness, possibly a call to go back to the old times when there no problems between them.
Fourth verse, not sure, but I think the "took you down" line means the friend had to be forced into treatment. The meadow is probably a metaphor for their friendship, while also noting the time of year all this took place.
Fifth verse is pretty self-explanatory, basically saying the singer's friendship shouldn't be rejected just because of whatever happened. I think the lyrics are supposed to be "out walking" or "a-walking", though. "I walking" doesn't really make sense.
The first chorus is saying that after all the arguments, interventions, etc., the friend will now go to "Mykonos" - a metaphor for a rehab center, which are often located in quiet, secluded places. The singer is hoping that the "gentle coast" and the "sun" will help get rid of the "shadows." Great imagery, don't think I need to comment too much on the meaning.
The second chorus is brilliantly simple - the singer is telling his friend he should accept what is happening and not fight it. In other words, he is going where he needs to be going. The "you go today" is reminiscent of something said during an intervention, where a trip to rehab can be sprung on the addict out of the blue. I think the singer is also saying that he is done with this now; the friend will go "wherever," and the singer can't be bothered cleaning up his messes anymore.
Also, Wikipedia reveals some interesting allusions: Mykonos is a Greek island where the Gigantes rose up against the Olympian gods (Zeus, etc.) and were all slaughtered. In particular, the god Dionysus killed the Giant Eurytos with a weapon topped with a pine cone, referred to in the second verse. Perhaps pine can be a reference to another type of needle as well?
...Shit, didn't expect to write that much when I first started this comment :P
Anyway, hope it was helpful!
I think the song is about drug addiction and a friendship gone sour: The first verse describes an argument ending with the friend angrily storming out. The second verse suggests that the "snow-tipped pines" (i.e. arguments/rationalizations) of the friend are weak; they are hatched from the "seed" of a "thin mind," meaning one addled by drugs. The third verse says that it doesn't have to be this way. I don't know what the "ancient gate" refers to, but I'm guessing it's some sort of metaphor for forgiveness, possibly a call to go back to the old times when there no problems between them. Fourth verse, not sure, but I think the "took you down" line means the friend had to be forced into treatment. The meadow is probably a metaphor for their friendship, while also noting the time of year all this took place. Fifth verse is pretty self-explanatory, basically saying the singer's friendship shouldn't be rejected just because of whatever happened. I think the lyrics are supposed to be "out walking" or "a-walking", though. "I walking" doesn't really make sense. The first chorus is saying that after all the arguments, interventions, etc., the friend will now go to "Mykonos" - a metaphor for a rehab center, which are often located in quiet, secluded places. The singer is hoping that the "gentle coast" and the "sun" will help get rid of the "shadows." Great imagery, don't think I need to comment too much on the meaning. The second chorus is brilliantly simple - the singer is telling his friend he should accept what is happening and not fight it. In other words, he is going where he needs to be going. The "you go today" is reminiscent of something said during an intervention, where a trip to rehab can be sprung on the addict out of the blue. I think the singer is also saying that he is done with this now; the friend will go "wherever," and the singer can't be bothered cleaning up his messes anymore.
Also, Wikipedia reveals some interesting allusions: Mykonos is a Greek island where the Gigantes rose up against the Olympian gods (Zeus, etc.) and were all slaughtered. In particular, the god Dionysus killed the Giant Eurytos with a weapon topped with a pine cone, referred to in the second verse. Perhaps pine can be a reference to another type of needle as well?
...Shit, didn't expect to write that much when I first started this comment :P Anyway, hope it was helpful!