Carvel

John Frusciante's song 'Carvel' delves deep into themes of loss, longing, and the complex emotions that accompany them. The lyrics reflect a sense of introspection and the struggle to cope with the absence of a significant person. The opening lines, 'When I try I force it out / Never looking in only out,' suggest a difficulty in processing internal emotions, instead focusing outwardly. This external focus might be a coping mechanism to avoid confronting the pain of loss directly. The line 'Never the same since I lost you' poignantly captures the irreversible change that loss brings to one's life.

The repeated phrase 'Sending a dummy to my God' can be interpreted as a metaphor for feeling disconnected or insincere in one's spiritual or emotional expressions. It might signify a sense of going through the motions without genuine feeling, a common experience when grappling with grief. The mention of 'driving to eat a Carvel cake' introduces a mundane activity that contrasts sharply with the profound emotional turmoil, highlighting the dissonance between everyday life and inner suffering. The repeated plea 'Have you gone away already / Come back, come back, come back' underscores the yearning for the return of the lost person, a desperate hope that they might still be present in some form.

The song also touches on the cyclical nature of energy and emotions with the lines 'All the good times are on their way / Up and down that's how energy stays alive.' This suggests an acceptance of life's inherent fluctuations and the idea that both highs and lows are essential for vitality. Frusciante seems to find a form of solace in this understanding, acknowledging that the ebb and flow of emotions is a natural part of existence. The song, with its raw and honest lyrics, offers a window into the artist's personal struggles and his journey towards finding balance amidst chaos.