Importance of Context on Interpretation

I have a very personal experience that highlights how context is very important when trying to understand how somebody interprets spoken words, written text, sounds and sights.  In my case it is the interpretation of the meaning of a particular song - "I'm With You" by Avril Lavigne.  There are many interpretations to the song.  See this link for some examples.  Apparently Avril wrote it one day when her boyfriend wasn't around and she was simply in a down mood.

For me the story starts in the autumn of 2005 when an employee of mine, a friend of mine, died tragically in a kayaking accident on the Sea of Cortez.  She had been kayaking with friends, the winds picked up, they got separated.  She had the radio, called in for help.  Her friends were found, she wasn't.  This event affected me in many ways and I was much more emotional than I would have expected based on my personality - up to that point in my life anyway.  Here was a woman in the prime of her life, in great physical shape, intelligent whose life was ended suddenly on an exciting, fun trip with friends.  On a much deserved reprieve from a gruelling time at work.

I had "I'm With You" on my MP3 player for a while but never really listened to the lyrics, just the melody.  The first time the lyrics actually reached out and connected with me I was lying in bed in a hotel room trying to fall asleep, the day of her funeral.  It had been an emotional day.  Strangers cried together, held each other.  It was a small event, a personal event.  I felt that I had been an intruder on this family event as well as part of this family I had just met.  In a way that day caused me to crack my personal shell a bit and to be more comfortable revealing my thoughts, feelings and opinions.  Anyhow, back to the song.  The words sprung out at me that night.  Through the earbuds of my MP3 I suddenly had a video in my head.  And, today, when I hear this song I still think of her and feel terribly sad.  It brings back the moment, in all its vividness.

Here are Avril's words and my interpretation....based on what I was feeling that day, what I had experienced.

I'm standing on the bridge - On the bridge of the "boat"

I'm waiting in the dark - waiting

I thought that you'd be here by now - for the rescuers to arrive

There's nothing but the rain - not yet

No footsteps on the ground - quiet due to intense concentration on survival

I'm listening but there's no sound

Isn't anyone tryin' to find me? - where the heck are you rescuers??

Won't somebody come take me home? - I want to be home!  Somewhere familiar, safe.

It's a damn cold night - the water, the air, it is cold

Trying to figure out this life - life flashing by

Won't you take me by the hand - anyone, rescuers, God...anyone!

Take me somewhere new - get me out of here

I don't know who you are but I...I'm with you - peace?

I'm with you - Surrendering life to another place?

I'm looking for a place
I'm searching for a face
Is anybody here I know? - still nobody around
'Cause nothing's going right - anger
And everything’s a mess
And no one likes to be alone - loneliness

Isn't anyone tryin’ to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home?

Why is everything so confusing? - hypothermia sets in
Maybe I'm just out of my mind - her surroundings are becoming confused
Yeah.. yeah.. yeah!..yeah.. yeah, - someone is arriving, something!
yeah.. yeah, yeah yeah,YEAH...
It's a damn cold night - gosh it's sooo cold
Trying to figure out this life
Won't you take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new - take me away, leave this life
I don't know who you are
But I....!
I'm with YOU... - I'll just leave with you, now
I'm with YOU...
Take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are - Who are you?  God, spirits, other worlds, powers?
But I! - I've never believed in you
I'm with you... - I surrender to you
I'm with you...

Take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I
I'm with you
I'm with you
I'm with you - I am ok with you, stranger.  I am at peace.

So that is my interpretation of the song.  The mood I was in that evening, what I was feeling has poured this interpretation into the concrete of my brain, never to change.