The best interpretation for this song would be in the realization that the word “desire” has multiple meanings. One possible meaning is as a term that could be replaced with “greed” which seems to be the meaning of the final stanza, For love or money, money.
Then of course there is the representation of the section in New Orleans known as “Desire”. Drugs, gangs, and poverty are dominant there. In this sense, the song addresses the overall breakdown of the “inner-city” social structure. This is best illustrated in the lines, Over the counter with a shotgun, pretty soon, everybody got one. Additionally, an item which seems to further confirm this construal is the use of “she” throughout the song. This “she” might refer to a place instead of a person.
Click here to download the guitar tab for Desire
(Yeah)
Lover, I’m on the street
Gonna go where the bright lights
And the big city meet
With a red guitar…on fire
Desire
She’s a candle burning in my room
Yeah I’m like the needle, needle and spoon
Over the counter with a shotgun
Pretty soon everybody got one
And the fever when I’m beside her
Desire, desire…
And the fever…getting higher
Desire, desire…burning, burning
She’s the dollars
She’s my protection
Yeah she’s a promise
In the year of election
Oh sister, I can’t let you go
Like a preacher stealing hearts
At a traveling show
For love or money money money
money money money money money
money money money
And the fever, getting higher
Desire, desire, desire, desire
Desire, desire
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