Having just gone through a breakup, this song hits right at home. And I think that's exactly what this song is about. Mick fell for someone because he needed someone. Those 'corny lines' she said went to his head, and he fell for all of it. But at the same time, he knew all the while that it was only a matter of time before she would break his heart. It didn't matter though, because he needed someone to be there, even if it was only for a 'month or two'.
The end of the song is the equivalent of sitting in your room with your face in your hands crying. Hence the 'shut the light' and 'let it all come down'. But the line 'let it loose' is saying you need to let it go and move on. Get it all out... scream... cry... do whatever you need to do. But then let it loose and move forward. That's only my interpretation. But the great thing about a song that's sort of abstract like this is that you can interpret it in so many different ways.
This beautifully moody song is about love like a cannon ball with your name on it coming out of the blue aimed straight at your heart - you see the incoming shot but you're powerless to avoid it. A good friend sees her coming too and tries to warn you, but it's no use. You are a goner.
Her friends think you're just a one night stand (maybe that's what she told them), but they don't know how vulnerable you are and how hard you fell for her. You tell yourself to hide your tears, act like you're cool and in control, and pretend this woman you hooked up with didn't really get to you. But she did get to you and you can't lie to yourself about that.
God knows you were feeling needy and she was oh so willing right when you needed her to be, but that doesn't change the basic math here: you fell for the wrong person (again) and now you're emotionally bereft. How long does it take for love to fly you to the moon and back and then turn your life into an emotional train wreck? "Give her just about a month or two..."
You're getting drunk to try and feel better but you know that's a very temporary BandAid at best. The only way out is through. You've got to stop lying to yourself about how you feel. Admit that you cared. Admit that you got played. Admit that it hurts. Let it loose, let it all come down. It's going to take some time to get beyond your current lovelorn state, but you'll live through this. And yet... The One That Got Away took a little piece of your heart with her and a lifetime won't be long enough for you to truly forget her.
From: https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/45170/
