The Used: Poetic Tragedy Meaning

Poetic Tragedy Lyrics

The cup is not half empty as pessimists say
as far as he sees nothing's left in the cup
A whole cup full of nothing for him to indulge
since the voice of ambition has long since been shut up

A singer, a writer,
he's not dreaming now of...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   Lylehahn

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jun 14th 2006 !⃝

   Okay, this I have to start with, is a fucking great, but confusing song, IF you don't understand... Well anyway, the basic meaning... or should I say dedication, is to Kurt.D.Cobain (the nirvana singer, a god and a legend) he was a man with bi-polar, and chronic depression, but such a wise man, so many emotions and great opinions, "he cries out to god or just no one" mentally ill and depressed people always have some breaking point where they cry into nothingness, sometimes at god. "a singer, a writter, he's dreaming of now not going nowhere" he was the composer (singer and songwritter) for nirvana but never wanted fame, never wanted to be a huge sucess.. "then on that last day he breaks...... He yelled, he yelled, he takes his life" Kurt Cobain killed himself in 1994 by blowing his brains out in his seatle "greenhouse".... "violent frustration..." Kurt was a very violent, self-angered person and you could see it in his preformance, where they would roll around on the ground, break equiptment and cry on stage, Kurt attempted suicide many times but was helped out by police and his wife, but then ended it all after escaping a rehab center and shot himself....
2. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Apr 22nd 2010 !⃝

   I think Bert is referring to him self. Like how he never wants to be too famous, he doesn't want to get all caught up in fame and himself. So I think it's about himself. It just makes sense to me that it would be about himself and his depression.
   LOVE THIS SONG. My favorite song ever <3
3. HHG

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Dec 3rd 2009 !⃝

   I originally had different interpretations of the song, but now that you mention it, it could be about Kurt Cobain.
   I originally thought the song was either about a person he knew (like a friend or something) that commited suicide or he is reffering to himself in third person, saying what could've been if he commited suicide (a singer, a writer).
   But yeah they're all interpretations and i dont think any of them are wrong.
4. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Apr 23rd 2008 !⃝

   Guys...what about the title which is still POETIC tragedy?
5. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Apr 23rd 2008 !⃝

   I totally agree with: it's about Bert and his depression...could be dedicated to KK in some way - Bert compares himself with KK, maybe? could be the reason for "I feel..."
6. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jul 3rd 2007 !⃝

   It could me about Kurt, but it sounds to me like a suicide letter...when I heard about it, it sounded like a teenager who was confused, and doesn't know what to do with himself.
7. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jul 3rd 2007 !⃝

   The lyrics say "and he yells... and he yells... and he takes his life."
   Either that is extremely distorted or if you listen you can vaguely make out: "Why?... World?... Why world?... Hate!... You!... Hate you!... Bye world!"
8. Nocturnal_Lilly

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Apr 22nd 2007 !⃝

   Wow, it really does have a great similarity towards the death of Cobain. Nonetheless, Bravo! Such a meaningful song from a clearly talented band....
9. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Feb 14th 2007 !⃝

   I've read that is is about Kurt Cobain, it makes perfect sense
10. anonymous

    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5

    click a star to vote

    Nov 13th 2006 !⃝

    I agree that it was written for kurt. As for the last comment, the song is also about Bert's depression...
    
    The actual lyric you are referring to is:
    
    "he's feels alone, just holds it inside he's alone, he feels like, I feel."
    
    mearly a comparison.
11. anonymous

    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5

    click a star to vote

    Jun 28th 2006 !⃝

    This song is about depression. Pessimists see the cup as 'half empty', but as far as he see's, nothings left in the cup.
    
    A singer, a writer, with no ambition. Didn't heed anybody, and so he 'voyages in circles' which gets him nowhere.
    
    He doubts the existance of God because all that he was 'is just a tragedy'.
    
    As for this song being related to KK's death. Not in my opinion. It's about Bert. 'he feel's alone. I feel'. When he says I feel it's clearly about him.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

Latest Articles

• 
  Let’s Chase Taylor Swift Rumors
• 
  When the Beatles Touched Off a Movie War
• 
  When Mike Bloomfield Composed a Soundtrack For Andy Warhol
• 
  Yet Another List of Bad Song Covers
• 
  Why Does Everybody Pick On Liberace?
• 
  Trainspotting Soundtrack Revisited : One of the Best Ever?