Meaning of "Sheepskin Tearaway" by Peter Doherty

"Sheepskin Tearaway" delves into themes of love, addiction, and the complexities of relationships. The woman in the song is described as opening her heart to someone with a troubled past, willing to overlook the scars and the heroin in favor of connection. Despite warnings and the acknowledgment that things may not be okay, there is still a sense of hope and surrender to the situation. The line "You can fight forever, but if you kill them all, you'll never win" suggests that battling inner demons or past traumas can be an endless struggle, and sometimes the key lies in acceptance and finding alternative ways to cope with pain. The imagery of trying to dry your eyes in the pouring rain underscores the futility of attempting to fix something inherently broken. Overall, the lyrics poignantly capture the complexities of love, addiction, and the human experience of trying to navigate through pain and loss.