Meaning of "Was" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd

The lyrics of "Was" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd paint a picture of loneliness, regret, and self-destruction. The moonless night and empty sky symbolize a sense of emptiness and lack of guidance in the narrator's life. The repeated expression of being a fool and having crazy thoughts suggests feelings of inadequacy and instability. The woman mentioned appears to represent a past relationship that was both alluring and dangerous, leading to a lot of pain and regret in the speaker's life. The imagery of the black cat and the hangman's noose adds a sense of darkness and doom to the narrative, hinting at the destructive path that the speaker is on. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of self-destructive behavior, regret, and the struggle to break free from toxic patterns.