Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: metal
Song Meaning of “Pabst Blue Ribbon on Ice” by The Amity Affliction
The song ‘Pabst Blue Ribbon on Ice’ by The Amity Affliction speaks to the ongoing cycle of addiction. The lyrics make it clear that the singer is hopelessly stuck in a state of addiction, as evidenced by the lyric “Crack a cold one open even though I’ve done this all before”. The metaphor of “pabst blue ribbon on ice” represents how addiction numbs emotional pain- the allusion to “ice” makes the listener understand that there is an element of escapism in the singer’s indulgence.
The chorus emphasizes this idea of an unending cycle when the singer states “all I wanna do is break this sick routine” then immediately follows up with “but all I do is drink them Pabst Blue Ribbon on ice”. This juxtaposition speaks to the duality of wanting to be free of addiction, yet at the same time having no control over it.
The lyrical words which describe “fading” and the “darkness deep within” strike a deep emotional chord for the listener as they come to understand just how deep the singer’s struggles with addiction go. The listener is left with the realization that addiction can be a daunting and all-encompassing force on one’s life.