Interpret theme song

I disagree. The lyrics, posted below, mean that life is short, and if one is tired of hate (war) one recourse is suicide. Not a very good alternative, but one that's available to us all given that death is inevitable anyway.

Further, we make choices about loving or hating, and suicide is preferable to living in hate (war) since we all live in an imperfect, painful world. . . one where there are no easy answers to meaningful questions.

'Suicide is Painless'

Through early morning fog I see
visions of the things to be
the pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see...

[REFRAIN]:

that suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
I try to find a way to make
all our little joys relate
without that ever-present hate
but now I know that it's too late, and...

[REFRAIN]

The game of life is hard to play
I'm gonna lose it anyway
The losing card I'll someday lay
so this is all I have to say.
[REFRAIN]

The only way to win is cheat
And lay it down before I'm beat
and to another give my seat
for that's the only painless feat.
[REFRAIN]

The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn't hurt when it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...

[REFRAIN]

A brave man once requested me
to answer questions that are key
is it to be or not to be
and I replied 'oh why ask me?'

[REFRAIN]

'Cause suicide is painless
it brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
...and you can do the same thing if you please.

I heard a remake of this song on the radio and it finally led me here. Very nice analysis. The "sword of time" metaphor is particularly powerful in my opinion.

dadoo4050 typed:

One must remember that the lyrics were written by a teenager. It has been my experience (I am an English teacher, and have taught "creative writing" as well as traditional literature and grammar courses) that teens tend to deal with dark topics. "Teen angst" is, indeed, an appropriate term.

The "losing card" is the inevitability of death that comes too all. So suicide is considered an alternative. To cheat death of playing the card "for" us, suicide is chosen as the alternative that puts the play in our own hands. But since that is self-murder it is no option. How could it be true that we could cheat "inevitable death" by taking our own life earlier? That doesn't even make sense. It would be like saying "to keep someone from taking my money in high taxes when I die, I'm going to burn all of my money now and show them!!" How stupid.

Ecclesiates 2:14 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

Ecclesiates 6:6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

Ecclesiates 7:1-2 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. '2' It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

Ecclesiates 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. '6' Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

I always figured the lyrics were meant to be taken as a bit over the top. Kinda absurd. I've never seen it as other than what was supposed to be a bit of dark comedy where the guy singing was probably doing so with a big smile because he understood the context. I could be dead wrong, but tone can throw any reading of lyrics on its head.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Thanks, Hoobler. You'd be most welcome in my class.

"uva uvam vivendo varia fit"

I thought the lyrics to the opening were brilliant. Did they use them for the TV series as well?

"...And listen to the music of the night"
Phantom of the Opera, 2004