I feel that it is quite clearly a heart-wrenching apology for being a crappy father. It is amazing to me how many people seem to think this song is about a romantic relationship gone bad and/or that it is sarcastic. I wholeheartedly agree with this interpretation. Anyway, I hope this makes sense to kind of makes me think of people I've wronged/ have been wronged by.it's sad but such a beautifully and poetically written song. I almost want to make that happen myself. I love this song so much! And the book! If ever there was a remake of the movie, I wish this song would be in the soundtrack. Even though Finny was his best friend, he felt he needed to learn a lesson). (Gene thought Finny was out of control yet got away with everything because he was charming. Listen to those who know better, or you'll end up hurting yourself. You're bold but bring destruction with you where you walk. Gene to Finny: Tremble because you'll never be satisfied. It was my fault, but you're the one suffering for my foolishness. Gene feels terrible because he made all these problems in his head, which caused him to do a terrible thing to his best friend.

Gene is giving Finny permission to feel sorry for himself because he is not the person he used to be, he can't do the things he used to. And this really applies to anyone who has hurt someone and is trying to escape that.

Gene is trying to outrun what he's done and he's thinking to himself 'I'm such an idiot'. And I feel like that's when the songs starts. At one point in the book Gene goes to visit Finny in the hospital and Finny doesn't want to talk with him (or can't speak with him I can't remember) but Gene runs away, distraught-as if he's trying to run from his problems. Finny and Gene have a great friendship but Gene is constantly jealous of Finny which leads him to hurt Finny. Have you read the book A Separate Peace? It's one of my favorites, and I recently reread it and for some reason could not stop relating this song to the book. I absolutely agree! But also sometimes when I listen to it, I think he's talking to his best friend that he hurt. Or else spend your days biting your own neck Your boldness stands alone among the wreck

You know that you have seen this all before You're not as brave as you were at the start

Brave heart dear daughter lyrics