Santeria

I generally hate it when someone declares a song's meaning, but I've been thinking about this for a wile. This is just my interpretation, feel free to disagree with me.

Say it Ain't So is one of my favorite songs. Its been generaly stuck in my head for the last two years, and I have probably listened to it and played it a thoulsand times. It is verry lyricly complex and it took me a long time before I came to this interpritation of it.

Somebody's Heiney is crowding my ice box
Somebody's cold one is giving me chills
Guess I'll just close my eyes

The main character (presumably Rivers Cuomo) is out somewhere drinking but something feels wrong. He decides to just ignore it.

Flip on the tele, wrestle with Jimmy
Something is bubbling behind my back
Bottle is ready to go...

So he goes home and tries to amuse himself. Watches TV, plays around with his little brother, etc. He's still very bothered by something and his intial reaction is to drink it away. But as he reaches for the liqueur he comes to a big realization.

Say it ain't so!
Your drug is a heart breaker.
Say it ain't so!
My love is a life-taker.

He realizes that he is not only an alcoholic but that he is everything he hates. He feels that other people's alcoholism destroyed his life.

I can't conform to, I never could do
That witch might hurt you, so try and be cool
When i say that this way is a water slide away from me that takes me farther everyday
be cool

I'm not as sure about this verse, but I think that he's looking for the cause of his drinking. He talks to his father who he's always tried hard to please, perhaps too hard, and he prepares his father for what comes next.

(Repeat Chorus and then:)
Dear Daddy, I write you, despite of years of silence
You've cleaned up, found Jesus, things are good or so I here
This bottle of Steven's awakens ancient feelings
Like father, step-father, the son is drowning in the flood!
(Guitar Solo, Chorus, and then end)

So, as he gets to the root of his resentment he tells his father that even though the father stopped drinking, its too late. The damage he has done to the main character of this song can't be undone. The last line also implies that his father divorced his mother, and the step-father was no replacement.

Sorry that was so long, and pointless, I just needed something to kill time.

Well its love that I need
But my soul will have to wait