The song "Voodoo Doll" by John Grant tells the story of a person who is deeply depressed and struggling with their emotions. The lyrics describe how others perceive them as a mess and fail to understand their struggles. However, the narrator of the song believes in this person and wants to help them find hope and happiness. The title "Voodoo Doll" is metaphorical and represents the narrator's desperate attempts to alleviate the person's depression. They make a voodoo doll and try to bring comfort to the individual by giving it chicken soup and administering hot chocolate. These actions symbolize the narrator's efforts to provide warmth and healing to the person. Despite their unconventional approach, the narrator's intentions are genuine. They believe that even on the person's worst days, they hate no one less than them, showing their unwavering support and love. The narrator is determined to convince the person that they will overcome their struggles and achieve great things. They encourage the person to keep moving forward without turning back. The humorous reference to a corduroy jumpsuit and a trip to Kalamazoo adds a light-hearted touch to the song, possibly indicating the narrator's attempts to make the person smile and feel better through playful gestures. Overall, "Voodoo Doll" is a song about empathy, understanding, and the lengths someone will go to in order to help someone they care about overcome their depression and find happiness in life.
