Breeds of Misery: Addiction, self-pity, getting old, existential despair
Best/Worst Verse: "You say it's Christmas Eve? That don't mean nothing to me. Just another fucked up day, just another waste of time."
I first heard this song, about a 35-year-old heroin addict, when it came out in 1993. I was in college and somehow empathized with lines like "You smartass college fuck, act like you think you're tough. I was just like you, more proud than you could know. You think you pity me? Yeah, I'll kick your ass if you pity me." (I think I especially loved that they were playing primarily to college-town audiences.) I probably over-idolized Art Alexakis's street cred as a recovering addict, and envisioned myself romantically as either him or Jim Carroll by the time I was 35. What a disappointment I've been.