Meaning of "In The Thrall Of It All" by Down

The lyrics paint a dark and bleak portrait of someone who is trapped in a cycle of self-destructive behavior. The person described is aware of their flaws and the consequences of their actions, yet they seem incapable of breaking free from their destructive patterns. They are filled with self-loathing, as seen in lines like "failed his name with no care to hide it" and "two decades wasted". The repeated references to the wailing wall and the funeral pyre suggest a sense of finality and inevitability to the person's downfall. The idea of being in the thrall of it all conveys a sense of being under the control of something greater than oneself, unable to escape. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and despair, highlighting the destructive power of one's own actions.