i think backslide is about addiction

the first time i listened to backslide, it spoke to me and my experience with substance abuse. i thought that was just my own interpretation of the song, and that it probably wasn't written about substance abuse (i'm a casual fan, don't really follow what's going on with the band members themselves; i just listen to the music). but then my friend said vignette was confirmed to be about addiction. so backslide might be about addiction too. here's why i think so:

the title: backslide is synonymous with relapse. when broken down into medical terminology, the prefix "re-" means "back," "again," or "backward," and the suffix "-lapse" means "to fall or slide."

the lyrics:

I don't care, you control me

Leading me anywhere

addicts are considered powerless over their addiction; their addiction controls them

I don't wanna backslide to where I've started from

There's no chance I will shake this again

there's a saying: "everyone has another relapse in them, but not everyone has another recovery." if an addict goes out and uses, there's a chance they'll never come back.

i didn't see this take on the sub, so i thought i'd share. i wanna know everyone else's thoughts on it!

(there are a couple other lines that make me think of 12-step programs, but that might be reaching. would love to discuss it with friends of bill if y'all are out there! )