Adhesive

Stone Temple Pilots' song 'Adhesive' is a rich and intricate exploration of modern life's complexities, blending surreal imagery with poignant social commentary. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a world where reality and fantasy blur, symbolized by characters like 'my friend blue' and 'hot pink purple china glow.' These colorful metaphors suggest a sense of artificiality and disconnection, where traditional values and natural growth ('His family trees are molded / No longer grows in summer') are stifled by contemporary pressures.

The recurring theme of confusion ('It's so so confusing') underscores the song's exploration of societal disarray. The lines 'Grab the hate and drown it out / Grab the beat and drum it out' suggest a desperate attempt to find solace and meaning amidst chaos. The mention of 'cartoons like reality' and 'comatose commodity' reflects a critique of how media and consumer culture distort our perceptions and numb our senses. The song also touches on the darker side of fame and the music industry, with lines like 'Sell more records if I'm dead' hinting at the exploitative nature of corporate interests.

The chorus, 'Adhesive love, adhesive,' serves as a metaphor for the binding yet fragile connections that hold us together. This 'adhesive love' could represent the superficial bonds in a society where genuine human connection is increasingly rare. The imagery of 'purple flowers ease the pain' and 'stitch the womb and wet the bed' evokes a sense of healing and vulnerability, suggesting that despite the confusion and artificiality, there is still a yearning for authentic experiences and emotional truth. Ultimately, 'Adhesive' is a poignant reflection on the struggle to find meaning and connection in a fragmented, commodified world.