Meaning of "Hell" by Blind Melon

"Hell" by Blind Melon is a song that delves into the themes of physical and mental decay, isolation, and the transitory nature of ownership and control. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who has undergone hardships, with their fingertips burned away and their fingernails eaten off due to extreme hunger. This physical damage mirrors the metaphorical damage they've endured, leaving them unable to read or think clearly. The repetition of feeling like hell emphasizes their intense feelings of anguish and despair.

The speaker expresses a desire to build a fence, which can be interpreted as an attempt to guard the remaining fragments of their senses and sanity from further deterioration. They seek solace in preserving the senses of taste and smell, which serve as anchors to their existence amidst the chaos of their mind. The mention of sitting and feeling like hell suggests that they have become accustomed to their suffering, almost finding a sense of comfort in it.

The lyrics also touch on the vulnerability of the physical body in comparison to the mind. The speaker contemplates the nature of their existence, questioning whether they are merely the sun, the moon, or the stars. This highlights the profound disconnect between the physical and the mental, as their body disintegrates over time while their mind continues to race. There is a sense of imbalance and frustration in expecting the body to keep up with the rapid pace of the mind.

Furthermore, the lyrics hint at the fleeting nature of ownership and control. The speaker acknowledges that today everything feels like theirs, suggesting a temporary respite from their anguish. However, the brevity of this ownership becomes evident with the line "That was fine." The transitory nature of this pleasure reinforces the underlying theme of impermanence and the inability to hold onto anything for long.

In essence, "Hell" captures the internal struggles and desolation of an individual trying to survive amidst physical and mental decay. It explores the fragility of the mind and the body, as well as the fleeting and illusory nature of ownership and control.