Song meaning of Permanent Damage by Rhett Miller

The song "Permanent Damage" by Rhett Miller tells a story about the narrator's dream and the dismissive attitude towards dreams and personal experiences. In the first verse, the narrator describes a dream where their family members and friends are in strange situations. However, nobody wants to listen to their dream or the "half the shit that happens in reality." This implies a lack of empathy and understanding towards others' inner lives and personal experiences.

The chorus emphasizes the notion that everyone has their own inner life, but society tends to disregard or belittle these experiences. The phrase "go back to sleep" suggests that the narrator should silence their thoughts and keep their dreams to themselves. This can be interpreted as a critique of a society that values conformity and dismisses individual feelings and experiences.

The bridge warns of the potential consequences of disregarding dreams and personal experiences. The line "Don't wake me up, you might do permanent damage" suggests that suppressing one's dreams and inner world may lead to negative consequences or an incomplete understanding of oneself.

In the final verse, the narrator realizes that their dream did not last forever but also finds solace in the presence of someone they care about. This suggests that personal connections and understanding can provide some respite from the dismissive attitude towards individual experiences.

Overall, "Permanent Damage" conveys a message about the importance of valuing and respecting the inner lives and dreams of others, highlighting the societal tendency to devalue personal experiences and the potential consequences of ignoring them.