This song is describing a relationship gone wrong. The relationship seems to be ruined by the singer, as it is hinted to in the line " I made this mess, I built this fire ". The "Earthquake" in this song is probably the break up. The line " Apparently the kind that would bury us alive " describes how badly the relationship was ruined, in this case it was ruined beyone the point of repair. The singer is asking for forgiveness as he wants the woman back. Now when the singer speaks of the ocean, as in " I sink now to the ocean floor...I lie here on the ocean floor " He is talking about the choice of death or suicide he wishes to take for destroying the relationship.

The meaning of the chorus is. " I'm asleep and can't wake up right now. I will eventually and realize this is all just a dream. " The part that says " So, go fill up the glass with tonic rocks and gin and drink yourself to happiness " means " Go get drunk and forget about everything, including me. " Basically it describes a friendship gone wrong. " we can all hang ourselves from gold chandeleirs, and drink goodbye to all the pains and fears, loose lips have sunk this ship to a shallow grave, washed up upon the rocks. " Means " We can't save this, even if we were drunk, secrets that were supposed to be secret have ruined us, this friendship is ruined. " " i won't be saved " Means " I'm done with this. "

The meaning of this song is simple. A married man is having an affair with his favorite stripper, but he can't help but keep his wife in mind. He has a very guilty concious. They chose Pandora as the name for the stripper, because Pandora unleashed the wrath of Pandora's Box, and in this case she is unleashing wrath upon this man's relationship with his wife. The line " I already forgot her " suggests that the man is telling Pandora that he no longer cares for his wife. " You know that i'm wanting more " describes the beginning of the man's and Pandora's relationship, meaning the first this man laid eyes on Pandora, he wanted more than just a lap dance. The chorus describes the man's regret for what he has done. " And I know that I'll regret it forever as I throw my life away " suggests that the man is going to throw his marriage away for Pandora.