Song Meaning

The lyrics describe a deep-seated internal struggle, an "affliction" and "addiction" felt in the very bones. There's a persistent effort to "start a fire." This isn't a simple yearning, but a complex, almost medicalized internal state. The speaker grapples with a "permeating condition" that feels both like a burden ("kind of a low") and something they paradoxically want to cultivate. The request to "Write me out a prescription / And let the feeling grow" is a striking inversion. It suggests a desire to lean into this intense internal state, rather than diminish it. The mythological reference to Midas and Dionysus adds significant depth. Midas's golden touch, a blessing turned curse, and Dionysus's forgiveness allowing the river to flow, hints at a search for release or transformation from a powerful, perhaps overwhelming, internal state. This ancient struggle mirrors the speaker's repeated attempts to "start a fire," which appears to be a metaphor for igniting passion, purpose, or even a destructive force within. The power of these lyrics lies in their evocative blend of clinical language and primal imagery. The persistent, almost desperate repetition of "Oh I tried, yeah I tried" underscores a profound internal effort, while the final "it'll never go" suggests a resigned acceptance of this burning, unshakeable condition. The ambiguity of what "fire" represents—passion, destruction, or a vital spark—makes the struggle deeply resonant, leaving the listener to ponder their own internal flames.