I know this is said a lot about many Manics songs, but I really do think this one is about Richey. It just all seems to fit.
First verse: 'Crushed any happiness you knew'--'knew' being the key word, Richey became more and more depressed with age, longing for his childhood when he knew untainted happiness; the tree could be referring to the cherry blossom tree outside the place Richey & Nicky shared that has come to kind of represent Richey; and how the tree 'gave more to you than love' could refer to Richey's rejection of the idea of love and his struggle with finding any meaningful relationship.
Chorus: describes Richey's perpetual loneliness in 'all alone forever'; suggests the memory of someone who's passed away, but still 'conclusions' are 'foregone'--a satisfying conclusion has never been reached regarding Richey's disappearance.
Second verse: referring to Richey's choice to end the life as he knew it; 'some peace at last so don't be sad'--could be talking to himself (Nicky, I mean, being the lyricist) or to fans, saying reassuringly that while Richey might be gone, at least he is at peace.
Third verse: 'Your future glories all empty of thoughts'--because he's gone, he cannot achieve any more of the glory he had in the limelight; 'There's beauty doing nothing at all/It's what you wanted, it's what you got/Your final search for truth has stopped'--again referring to Richey's decision to either disappear or commit suicide.
Anyways, could be off the mark here, but that's just my take on it. Maybe the kind of gospel choir in this one is supposed to give it a spiritual feel to suit these (in my opinion) bereaved lyrics.
I know this is said a lot about many Manics songs, but I really do think this one is about Richey. It just all seems to fit.
First verse: 'Crushed any happiness you knew'--'knew' being the key word, Richey became more and more depressed with age, longing for his childhood when he knew untainted happiness; the tree could be referring to the cherry blossom tree outside the place Richey & Nicky shared that has come to kind of represent Richey; and how the tree 'gave more to you than love' could refer to Richey's rejection of the idea of love and his struggle with finding any meaningful relationship.
Chorus: describes Richey's perpetual loneliness in 'all alone forever'; suggests the memory of someone who's passed away, but still 'conclusions' are 'foregone'--a satisfying conclusion has never been reached regarding Richey's disappearance.
Second verse: referring to Richey's choice to end the life as he knew it; 'some peace at last so don't be sad'--could be talking to himself (Nicky, I mean, being the lyricist) or to fans, saying reassuringly that while Richey might be gone, at least he is at peace.
Third verse: 'Your future glories all empty of thoughts'--because he's gone, he cannot achieve any more of the glory he had in the limelight; 'There's beauty doing nothing at all/It's what you wanted, it's what you got/Your final search for truth has stopped'--again referring to Richey's decision to either disappear or commit suicide.
Anyways, could be off the mark here, but that's just my take on it. Maybe the kind of gospel choir in this one is supposed to give it a spiritual feel to suit these (in my opinion) bereaved lyrics.