A year later this version appeared on the 1987 vinyl 12" single, Addiction, only this time it was identified as the track Addiction (Second Dose) and the production/engineering was credited to noted dub producer, Adrian Sherwood.
Later in 1987 the album (both CD & LP formats), Cleanse Fold And manipulate also featured a version of this track. Although neither Mind:TPI or Cleanse & Fold made mention of a difference in the versions by track name or remix annotations astute listeners immediately noticed the difference. This later version lacked the syncopation of cEvin's synth pad/strings and they were brought forward much louder in the mix. The drums were also more compressed and devoid of the elaborate panning between channels present in the earlier version. Lastly, Ogre's vocals were much more heavily treated with a mixture of reverb, chorus and delay.
This cemented the fact that the version appearing on the earlier Mind:TPI album was indeed the Addiction (Second Dose) version and had benefited from the masterful production techniques of Adrian Sherwood.
Addiction
Skinny Puppy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deranged
Talking in my sleep again
Eyes twitch
Retain
A sentimental something
Looked lorn
And we burned and burned
Breakdown amid the mixtures
Avoid addictive plea
Responding disillusion
Encrusted cruelty
describe why nails enclose me
Eating so easily
There exists a lot of reasons
To support fatality
Abstinence
Possessed
Hardly
What you think it is
Hearts beat positive
Provided there's progress
Ignorance
Does insist of the right coffin
Took some food offered me
Can't see myself
Drank the wine
Wished the feverish burst of terror
Breakdown amid the mixtures
Avoid addictive plea
Insist that nothing happened
Chilled, bloodless fatigue
Recharge with bitterness
Fanatics beckoning
Mistook a look impassioned
Absorbed with clarity
Consciousness drifts away
Discarded memory
Packaged shelf life bad display
Breakdown amid the mixtures
Avoid addictive plea
Excessive neuromances
Comfort is treachery
So pound the nails in tight
Eyes screaming out of sight
Against a grain-like curtain
Unbearably alive
The lyrics of Addiction by Skinny Puppy describe the inner turmoil of a person caught in the throes of addiction. The song gives glimpses into the dark psyche of someone who is struggling with substance abuse, and the feelings of desperation and despair that come along with it.
The opening lines create an image of someone who is tormented by their addiction even in their dreams, their eyes twitching and their mind consumed by a "sentimental something". The next few lines describe the cycle of addiction, how the person has burned and been burned, reduced to a cinder of body and soul.
As the song progresses, the lyrics delve deeper into the psychological aspects of addiction. The person is conscious of their problem but unable to break free, responding with disillusion to every attempt at abstinence. They describe feeling trapped and encased by their addiction, unable to escape its hold. The line "Comfort is treachery" speaks to the idea that even though addiction may feel like a refuge in the moment, it ultimately leads to pain and destruction.
Overall, Addiction paints a stark portrait of what it feels like to be caught in the grip of addiction, an unrelenting force that consumes everything in its path.
Line by Line Meaning
Desperate
Feeling a great sense of despair and hopelessness.
Deranged
Mentally disturbed and out of touch with reality.
Talking in my sleep again
Unconsciously revealing thoughts or feelings that are normally kept hidden.
Eyes twitch
Experiencing involuntary contractions of the muscles around the eyes.
Retain
Holding on to and preserving something in the mind or memory.
A sentimental something
Something with emotional value or importance.
Looked lorn
Appeared sad and lonely.
And we burned and burned
Experiencing intense emotional and psychological pain or suffering.
I was a cinder body soul in my dreams
Feeling completely consumed and destroyed by addiction in one's dreams.
Breakdown amid the mixtures
Experiencing a mental and emotional breakdown due to the combination of addictive substances.
Avoid addictive plea
Ignoring the urge to give in to addiction and avoiding seeking help.
Responding disillusion
Feeling disappointed and deceived by addiction's false promises.
Encrusted cruelty
Experiencing the harsh and unforgiving effects of addiction.
describe why nails enclose me
Questioning why addiction seems to grip and hold onto one's mind and body.
Eating so easily
Giving in to addiction without resistance or hesitation.
There exists a lot of reasons
There are many factors and circumstances that can lead to addiction.
To support fatality
Contributing to a destructive path that could ultimately lead to death.
Abstinence
Choosing to not give in to addiction and instead practicing self-control.
Possessed
Being completely under addiction's control and influence.
Hardly
Difficult to comprehend or understand.
What you think it is
Not being what it seems or appears to be.
Hearts beat positive
Feeling hopeful and optimistic about overcoming addiction.
Provided there's progress
Only making progress towards recovery if one actively works towards it.
Ignorance
Being unaware or uninformed about the reality of addiction.
Does insist of the right coffin
Stressing the importance of making the right choices in life and avoiding destructive behavior like addiction.
Took some food offered me
Receiving and accepting help or support from others towards overcoming addiction.
Can't see myself
Being unable to recognize oneself due to the effects of addiction.
Drank the wine
Giving in to the temptation of addiction and indulging in it.
Wished the feverish burst of terror
Feeling a sense of relief after experiencing the intense pain and suffering of addiction.
Excessive neuromances
Being lured into addiction by the pleasurable effects it can have.
Comfort is treachery
Becoming too comfortable with addiction or the idea of it can be dangerous and deceptive.
So pound the nails in tight
Urging oneself to resist the temptation of addiction and stay strong.
Eyes screaming out of sight
Feeling trapped and helpless due to the effects of addiction.
Against a grain-like curtain
Facing resistance and obstacles when trying to overcome addiction.
Unbearably alive
Feeling overwhelmed and consumed by the intensity of addiction and its effects.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hikaru Utada
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ilovetacos210
I mostly love how this song has the ability to fill my entire room with sound even when I'm currently listening to it on a cheap BT speaker.
@brianalls9371
Nice to see a handful of my SP brethren are out there. I liked this song as a child... came back as an adult and now I can't stop listening
@erikhermansen3431
I grew up in suburban Kansas in the 90's. Finding someone else that liked SP was like finding a unicorn. Finding someone my own age that liked it never happened, unless I introduced them to it.
@annireverie3560
Same here - I got (and I still am) totally obsessed with SP in the past, mostly alone. Many of my friends didn't like their music. But it was ok for me, it's not for everyone. Few people are happy that I introduced SP to them 🤘🏻
@lynnenewton
Absolutely one of the best from SP, you can dance your ass off to this song,,,
@michaelreuther1162
yeah feet on the ground and head in the clouds. :)
@ricktherrien8235
Haha love this comment, a true eighties and nineties prodigy.
Shake it you won’t brake it.
@jmp01a24
I preferred smoking a big bong of hashish and sit all still in my chair, letting my ears and head get soaked into the beats and soundscape. I miss those days. It was so fresh.
@swinehorde9118
If you live on this edge, you know no edge further. Addiction is rock bottom.
@jmp01a24
Huge classic. Been a fan since the 80's. This song is still one of my favourites. Awesome mood, lyrics and execution. The beat is hypnotic. Vocal is emotional and to the point, no fuzz and warm blankets, cold, like its cut out of the speakers with a sharp surgical knife. 🔌🎹❌⚫