Definitely Ryan’s perspective after the fallout with their mom (IMHO). It’s not confirmed, and it’s cool when other people get different interpretations from it, but:
“I turned 29 over the weekend”
Most people don’t expect an ex partner or even ex friend to care about their birthday after contact has been cut, but even with estranged family, it hurts not to even get a message about it.
“You know you’re not blocked, you still can call.”
You block crazy exes. People tend to be less inclined to block crazy parents.
“Did you hear we played the Garden, and I got my own apartment?”
These are milestones that you expect your parents to care about. You probably don’t expect an ex to congratulate you about getting an apartment. That’s something you look to your parents for approval on.
“Are you in touch with anyone at all?”
She’s cut out all of the brothers and probably other family. When manipulated parents do this, they isolate themselves, and it feeds into their victim mentality and paranoia.
“I bet you never ever sit in silence, you’ll try therapists till one tells you you’re great”
This could be about anyone in your life who plays the victim after hurting you I suppose.
“Or else it might get clear though, that you’re not the fucking hero”
Exploitative, manipulative parents tend to act like they’re the ones doing all the work and sacrificing everything for their ungrateful children.
“And if you called I don’t know what I’d say.”
He wants her to call. That’s still his mom. But he doesn’t feel like he knows her anymore. He doesn’t know how to handle what she’s become.
“I’m sorry you went crazy, I’m sorry that I’m saying it so blunt, everybody says that you look happy, but to me, you just look like someone that I used to love.”
This could apply to a lot of different relationships, but it seems odd to tell an ex that they look happy yet you know they secretly aren’t. It’s a bit mean, even. But with a parent who is parading around like the hero, pretending to be happy about cutting off contact with her own kids, the harshness feels proportional. This is also way too personal to be about someone you worked with in any capacity imo.
“Ok you’re right, and we’re all evil aliens, and thank God you’re here to save the human race from us, so shoot me in my weak spot, with your subatomic laser gun, now you’re really all alone”
Note “we’re all” and “us.” All the brothers- this isn’t about someone who only hurt Ryan. This comes back to her being the “hero.” She is treating them like an enemy, and positioning herself as the “good guy.” It also speaks to the exhaustion of fighting with a parent who is so intent on attacking you. You just want to say “fine, I’m the bad guy. You win.” Personally, it also feels like a nod to modern internet-era conspiracy theories that many of our older family members have fallen into, but meh, that’s just me.
“I’m sorry you went crazy, I’m sorry that the money’s what you want, everybody says that you look happy, but to me, you just look like someone that I used to love.”
She wanted their money. That was what their fallout was centered around… allegedly. It was a legal battle over money. She didn’t support them because she loved them. She wanted to exploit them.
“I’m sorry you went crazy, I’m sure it isn’t any fucking fun”
It’s a bitter song, but I don’t think this is sarcastic. Watching a parent you grew up trusting turn on you and isolate themselves is deeply upsetting.
“Yeah, you've gotten good at looking happy, but to me, you just look like someone that you used to love”
The switch up here gets emphasized:
“Oh my God, you really look like someone that you used to love.”
Now, some people interpret this as him saying “you look like the person you used to be, who was kind and happy with themselves, but I know you’re different now, and you aren’t happy with who you are.” That’s a good interpretation.
But, I disagree with it. I think he’s saying “you used to love me, and you look like me because I’m your child.” The “oh my God” feels like him looking at photos of them together, and being struck by how similar they look.
