I am absolutely in love with this song. It is so beautiful, even though it's very sad. I think she needs help and is struggling to get better. She has a beautiful soul. It's her drug addiction that masks it. But, as turboKing said, "There's ALWAYS hope." She's gonna make it. It is not her time yet. "It's too cold for angels to fly...for angels to die". When I think of going to Heaven, I think of a warm, peaceful feeling...not a cold, uncomfortable feeling.
I definitely believe the song is about drug addiction...in this case, crack/cocaine or crystal meth. The snowy white theme throughout the song speaks to this. She can't afford to support her habit and turns to prostitution. People who use these drugs literally "crumble" by change in appearance for the worse. If you've ever seen a before/after picture of someone who was using these drugs...even for a short period of time....there is a drastic difference. They look pale with sunk in cheeks and bags under their eyes, among other facial deformities. They also metaphorically crumble emotionally.
I was stumped for a long time about the line "The worst things in life come free to us". But, then I realized it means we didn't ask for this awful addiction, or any other problem, for that matter. "Cause we're just under the upper hand" means recovery is just out of reach. "And going mad for a couple grams" is that intense craving for the drug. I am a recovered drug addict. I've been clean for 6 1/2 years now. I was addicted to opiates. It almost ruined my life. And it drastically affected the quality of my life for a long time. It's still affecting the quality of my life, but in a much different way....a positive way. I feel Blessed that my life was saved by the Grace of God. He wasn't ready for me yet.
@lilysmom Good insight. This song does take on a special ache if you've gone through addiction, doesn't it? I battled w/ opiates like you did and feel unspeakably grateful to be clean. Although the damage I inflicted on myself and my family are things that still cause me to struggle w/guilt, I wouldn't trade the insight into the addict's mind that I have now - an absolute compassion I never had. When people speak in shock about their relative's behavior, esp when in need of the drug or money for it, I try to get them to understand that the...
@lilysmom Good insight. This song does take on a special ache if you've gone through addiction, doesn't it? I battled w/ opiates like you did and feel unspeakably grateful to be clean. Although the damage I inflicted on myself and my family are things that still cause me to struggle w/guilt, I wouldn't trade the insight into the addict's mind that I have now - an absolute compassion I never had. When people speak in shock about their relative's behavior, esp when in need of the drug or money for it, I try to get them to understand that the craving will make an addict do things you never, ever thought you could do. The behavior is the drug's doing - the friend/relative simply can't take the behavior personally. Nothing shocks me anymore in that regard - the lengths to which one will go to to obtain the 'medicine'. Your interpretation of 'just under the upper hand' helped me - I was struggling with that one too. This site is so helpful! I'm a high school English teacher, and since poetry can be hard to engage kids in, I like to have them examine song lyrics (from good writers, lol) because that's exactly what a song is. I wouldn't have trouble using this song with older students who could handle it maturely. But I have a friend who runs a recovery facility for teens - I think dissecting this song in a group setting would be an awesome activity. They might even come up with more insights that we could. ;) I think I'll send her a copy of the song and lyrics while I'm thinking of it. Take care..glad to hear of your recovery! :)
I am absolutely in love with this song. It is so beautiful, even though it's very sad. I think she needs help and is struggling to get better. She has a beautiful soul. It's her drug addiction that masks it. But, as turboKing said, "There's ALWAYS hope." She's gonna make it. It is not her time yet. "It's too cold for angels to fly...for angels to die". When I think of going to Heaven, I think of a warm, peaceful feeling...not a cold, uncomfortable feeling.
I definitely believe the song is about drug addiction...in this case, crack/cocaine or crystal meth. The snowy white theme throughout the song speaks to this. She can't afford to support her habit and turns to prostitution. People who use these drugs literally "crumble" by change in appearance for the worse. If you've ever seen a before/after picture of someone who was using these drugs...even for a short period of time....there is a drastic difference. They look pale with sunk in cheeks and bags under their eyes, among other facial deformities. They also metaphorically crumble emotionally.
I was stumped for a long time about the line "The worst things in life come free to us". But, then I realized it means we didn't ask for this awful addiction, or any other problem, for that matter. "Cause we're just under the upper hand" means recovery is just out of reach. "And going mad for a couple grams" is that intense craving for the drug. I am a recovered drug addict. I've been clean for 6 1/2 years now. I was addicted to opiates. It almost ruined my life. And it drastically affected the quality of my life for a long time. It's still affecting the quality of my life, but in a much different way....a positive way. I feel Blessed that my life was saved by the Grace of God. He wasn't ready for me yet.
God bless you!
God bless you!
Definitely agree with your sentiments. Thanks for sharing your story. :) Hope is real.
Definitely agree with your sentiments. Thanks for sharing your story. :) Hope is real.
@lilysmom Good insight. This song does take on a special ache if you've gone through addiction, doesn't it? I battled w/ opiates like you did and feel unspeakably grateful to be clean. Although the damage I inflicted on myself and my family are things that still cause me to struggle w/guilt, I wouldn't trade the insight into the addict's mind that I have now - an absolute compassion I never had. When people speak in shock about their relative's behavior, esp when in need of the drug or money for it, I try to get them to understand that the...
@lilysmom Good insight. This song does take on a special ache if you've gone through addiction, doesn't it? I battled w/ opiates like you did and feel unspeakably grateful to be clean. Although the damage I inflicted on myself and my family are things that still cause me to struggle w/guilt, I wouldn't trade the insight into the addict's mind that I have now - an absolute compassion I never had. When people speak in shock about their relative's behavior, esp when in need of the drug or money for it, I try to get them to understand that the craving will make an addict do things you never, ever thought you could do. The behavior is the drug's doing - the friend/relative simply can't take the behavior personally. Nothing shocks me anymore in that regard - the lengths to which one will go to to obtain the 'medicine'. Your interpretation of 'just under the upper hand' helped me - I was struggling with that one too. This site is so helpful! I'm a high school English teacher, and since poetry can be hard to engage kids in, I like to have them examine song lyrics (from good writers, lol) because that's exactly what a song is. I wouldn't have trouble using this song with older students who could handle it maturely. But I have a friend who runs a recovery facility for teens - I think dissecting this song in a group setting would be an awesome activity. They might even come up with more insights that we could. ;) I think I'll send her a copy of the song and lyrics while I'm thinking of it. Take care..glad to hear of your recovery! :)