Meaning of "Cold Feelings" by Social Distortion

The lyrics of "Cold Feelings" delve into the inner turmoil and emotional struggles experienced by the narrator. The song starts by expressing their frustration with uninvited and persistent feelings that come without warning and linger for too long. These emotions disrupt their desire to maintain control over their inner self. The narrator longs for a sign, a signal that would help them navigate through their emotions, attempting to separate their body from their mind. This separation represents the struggle to detach from the overwhelming influence of their emotions and regain a sense of stability.

Throughout the song, the ticking clock serves as a metaphorical reminder of the passage of time, highlighting the narrator’s anxieties surrounding mortality. They express a hesitance to experience the pain of losing a loved one and the associated grief. This fear of emotional pain clashes with their faith, as they believe in something greater but find it difficult to overcome the heavy weight of their own fears. The presence of "cold winds blowing through me like an empty touch" symbolizes the desolation and emptiness that accompanies their emotional state, emphasizing the isolating nature of their struggle.

Overall, "Cold Feelings" captures the complexities of emotional turmoil and the internal conflicts that can arise within a person's psyche. The lyrics convey a sense of longing for peace, the yearning for relief from emotional burdens, and the desire to find a way to separate from these overwhelming feelings. The repetition of the phrase "cold feelings in the night" underscores the haunting and unsettling nature of these emotions, which continue to persist despite the narrator's attempts to overcome them.