change of words in the chorus reminds me of shuffling of cards in poker.. he's shuffling the cards in different ways but still getting the same outcome.
I think there's also a hint that self-destructive tendencies got him into that rut he became stuck in - 'i keep throwing it down two-hundred at a time' etc. The use of the present tense might indicate that he perceives this tendency to still be present. The line 'it's hard to find it when you knew it' suggests to me that having a realization of love when you find it - doesn't necessarily mean you can accept someone else's love and love them in return - particularly when he's incapacitated by self-destructive habits (i.e spending recklessly, drinking too much).
I think there's an interesting theme of paralysis throughout the song - the image of being immobilised with stacks on top of you and his own self-destructive tendencies, as well as the image of his love being down in a 'frozen' ground. He then ends by talking about the 'unlocking' and the 'lift away' from this paralysis. While he hasn't changed (i.e., into a new man) or made a new or 'crispy' realisation, he has finally moved from out under the load/stack (or let go of these burdens) and lifted himself out of the rut he got stuck in. As a result, he's now free to safely deal with someone else's love, because he has the emotional space to accept it and appreciate it, which wasn't possible when he was paralyzed with the weight of troubles. I like that he's ending on a hopeful note - he's no longer burdened and is starting over - 'everything that happens is from now on'.
change of words in the chorus reminds me of shuffling of cards in poker.. he's shuffling the cards in different ways but still getting the same outcome. I think there's also a hint that self-destructive tendencies got him into that rut he became stuck in - 'i keep throwing it down two-hundred at a time' etc. The use of the present tense might indicate that he perceives this tendency to still be present. The line 'it's hard to find it when you knew it' suggests to me that having a realization of love when you find it - doesn't necessarily mean you can accept someone else's love and love them in return - particularly when he's incapacitated by self-destructive habits (i.e spending recklessly, drinking too much). I think there's an interesting theme of paralysis throughout the song - the image of being immobilised with stacks on top of you and his own self-destructive tendencies, as well as the image of his love being down in a 'frozen' ground. He then ends by talking about the 'unlocking' and the 'lift away' from this paralysis. While he hasn't changed (i.e., into a new man) or made a new or 'crispy' realisation, he has finally moved from out under the load/stack (or let go of these burdens) and lifted himself out of the rut he got stuck in. As a result, he's now free to safely deal with someone else's love, because he has the emotional space to accept it and appreciate it, which wasn't possible when he was paralyzed with the weight of troubles. I like that he's ending on a hopeful note - he's no longer burdened and is starting over - 'everything that happens is from now on'.