Drink To Get Drunk

Song Meaning

The narrator lays out a series of cause-and-effect actions, establishing a pattern of practical problem-solving. Eating satisfies hunger, water quenches thirst, eyes find things, and a key unlocks doors. This methodical approach to life is starkly contrasted by the final, almost desperate, assertion: "I use booze to unlock me." This isn't about satisfying a physical need; it's a deliberate, albeit destructive, method for internal access. The lyrics then pivot to a more complex emotional landscape, moving from external actions to internal states. Wearing shoes to avoid broken glass and pants to discourage unwanted advances are practical defenses. However, the shift to telling jokes to make others laugh and closing doors to cry reveals a struggle with emotional expression and vulnerability. The question, "So have I changed since you died?" anchors this internal turmoil to a profound loss, suggesting the narrator's current coping mechanisms are a direct consequence of grief. The most striking element is the narrator's deliberate use of alcohol not for pleasure or social lubrication, but as a tool for self-alteration. The repeated phrase, "To make noise I use my breathe," initially seems like another simple cause-and-effect statement, but in the context of the song, it might hint at the superficiality of external expression versus the deeper need to "unlock" oneself. The final, insistent refrain, "I drink to get drunk," becomes a mantra, a singular, overwhelming strategy for navigating a world that feels fundamentally altered by loss. This lyrical construction is effective because it grounds abstract grief in concrete, relatable actions, then reveals the deeply personal and unconventional way the narrator attempts to process it. The contrast between mundane utility and the profound, almost ritualistic, act of drinking to achieve an internal state creates a powerful sense of isolation and a desperate search for release.