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Apr 16th 2013!⃝Allow me to merge everyone's explanations together:
Basically, a boy committed suicide, and it harmed someone very close to him, probably his girlfriend, who is now thinking of following his example to be with him.
Line by Line:
"place in a smile at the perfect event"
The girl is faking a smile at the funeral, pretending she is alright enough not to do anything drastic
"gracing your skin with the side of my hand"
He is either remembering their relationship, or lamenting on how his spirit/ghost can touch her, but she cannot feel his attempt at comfort
"If I ever leave I could learn to miss you"
The boy states that if he left to the afterlife, he might be able to understand the intensity of sadness she is feeling
"But "Sentimental Boy" is my nom de plume"
But the boy realizes he's never been sentimental, only pretends to be - literally saying Sentimental Boy is his pen name
"Let me save you, hold this rope"
Other than the obvious, probably correct explanation, it COULD also be saying "hold" as in "hold off, don't" and "this rope" could be reffering to a rope he used to hang himself, telling her not to do the same. Double meaning?
"I may never sleep tonight,"
Boy: I may never be able to move on to the afterlife
"As long as you're still burning bright."
as long as the the girl still has feelings for him so "bright" that she could commit suicide out of pain for him OR as long as the girl is alive, because he feels personally responsible for her and cannot move on until he is SURE she died a natural death
"If I could trade mistakes for sheep,"
Double meaning: 1. A wistful beginning indicating a wish, with the allusion of sheep signifying innocence,so basically "I wish I could trade sins for innocence" 2. If sheep were the same as mistakes, basically the same as the literal meaning except when tied to the next line
"Count me away before you sleep."
The boy indicates he has made so many mistakes that he IS a mistake, or her having a relationship with him was, so he asks her to forget about him
"I'll stay awake till I trade my mistakes
So they fade away"
Boy: I will continue as a ghost until I find a way to fix my mistake of committing suicide
"I feel marooned in this body
Deserted, my organs can go on without me.
You can't fly these wings."
The boy could be saying that the girl won't become an angel/go to heaven if she commits suicide (Hamlet considered this problem too)
"You can't sleep in this box with me."
Reference to his coffin, basically just saying "don't do it"
"So, let me save you
hold this rope and ill pull you in
Cause I am an anchor
save her or Feel it sinking in"
The boy notices the two meanings to "anchor", which sinks in order to steady a ship, save it from going away with the metaphorical currents of life, OR if it is heavier than the boat, like on a lifeboat, would sink it. He states both options.
"Let me save you, hold this rope
I am an anchor, sinking her"
The boy comes to a conclusion that he only harms/sinks people, not helps ground them.
