At first she sounds desperate to be with someone no good for her, but she leaves clues that he was a different person, and the 'poison' is what changed him. Because he's trying, she's still clinging to the hope that he can return to that person. The end definitely reveals to me that he was probably an alcoholic or a generic druggie!
And he probably doesn't have a great support system, so she's bearing a lot of the weight. Even though it's hard, she can't leave him because he won't get anywhere alone. But at the same time I feel that its about dependence..both the addicts dependence on heroin and also the dependence of both partners on each other. For me the most significant and heartbreaking part of the song is where she sings "Will he still remember me...will he still love me when he's free? Or will he go back to the place where he chooses the poison over me?". She wants him to get off the drugs and for them to have a normal life together. But she fears that she may stand to lose him altogether if he gives up the drugs and no longer needs her either. That's a tragic line and shows song writing ability way beyond Adele's years..to see both sides of the situation so astutely...quite amazing
I was talking to one of my linesisters about this the other day and we both love this song. She believes that they are both dependent on each other. Which I agree with her on that.
What are y'all thoughts? Do you like it? What do you think this song is about?