What did Warren Zevon mean by his song, Sentimental Hygiene

[Waterguy]

You hear the lyrics along with the music in the background
and think it's this character wondering about a lot of things
that don't really make sense while he's driving around
in his car, just to escape it all

There's all this news, all this truth from trusted sources
even if you are one who can sus out the fake from reality

and then, it's gone

and nothing seems to change, instead we all
try to forget, try to make the most out of a bunch of crap


tomorrows a new day, you try to look at things

with the glass half full, focus on the bright side

as best as humanly possible

but damn it, why are mostly white young crazy individuals
gunning down innocent people

how come nobody is doing anything constructive about the shootings in big cities
and why aren't certain dilapidated areas where there's no hope
in hell ever given some help - shouldn't that be considered a National
goal in any true sense of the word regarding a true Democratic Nation?

I'm just wondering about how our priorities got so screwed up
Is what I think that song is about

At least that's how it affects me

but it's a good song, art is for a reason

[cos dem]

1. From what I've read, it has to do with his going through rehab.

After The Envoy, he got unceremoniously dumped by his record company (apparently he found out by reading it in the newspaper). He got into drinking (and probably drugs? I'm not certain), and went into rehab as a result.

I sort of interpreted it as a song about people having to get control of their internal feelings.

Detox Mansion on the same album is also about his time in rehab, a little more humorous take on it, in the style only Warren could do.