Stone Temple Pilots - Vasoline Meaning

Song Released: 1994

Vasoline Lyrics

One time a thing occurred to me
What's real and what's for sale
Blew a kiss and tried to take it home
It isn't you, isn't me
Search for things that you can't see
Going blind out of reach
Somewhere in the vasoline
Two times and it has...

1. anonymous

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   Jan 3rd 2022 !⃝

   "One time a thing occurred to me what's real and what's for sale"-----This first lyric is what it's all about--altered states, chemicals, mood elevators.
   What's real is the authentic self-esteem that is a by-product of hard work and discipline, or, the genuine happiness that comes from achieving a goal, or, that feeling of elation and ease that comes after a long run or other bodily exercise.
   And--What's for sale?---A fifty dollar baggie of methamphetamines that gives you a hefty dose of all the above without any self-initiative or effort whatsoever. Except coming up with the $50---maybe you get good at stealing.
   
2. anonymous

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   Nov 5th 2019 !⃝

   I get the feeling that this is about Scott Weiland’s addictions or his marriages or both. I know he was married 3 times and perhaps the second one left him feeling “Punch drunk and without bail.” Depends when the song was written.
3. Syrup

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   Dec 12th 2018 !⃝

   Well, I believe that this song is about being stuck in a bad place. "Flies in the vasoline we are" represents being in that bad place and seeing terrible things happening, but not being able to do anything about it. "Going blind, out of reach" means that the good things one can achieve in life, maybe like a family, a house, kids, etc. are slowly becoming harder and harder to achieve. "Isn't you, Isn't me" possibly means that the narrator here is saying that it isn't anyone's fault, but actually the line "Punch drunk and without bail" makes me think otherwise. That line could possibly mean that this person made a mistake when they got really drunk. But, uh, y'know, that's just my humble opinion.