When I’m playing the guitar, I don’t feel powerless.
There is a repeated line at the end of each verse which is the punishing reason the song exists - the line, “and I can’t shut off my head” is probably one of the worst afflictions human minds can suffer (it is, for sure, a rung below the highest worst “physical pain” that we can’t shut off)…. and the 24 hours, though it is long for a single piece of music, is really only one day…. some minds are not able to shut themselves off for years and years..
He’s probably now back in his bedroom making the greatest music the world will never hear, and maybe that’s the way it should be.