I'd agree to meanings are in the eye of the beholder.
I do love this song and when I sing it I think of an old sweetheart that had gone quite numpty in the upstairs.
I couldn't go with him no matter how I wanted to because I have my obligations and duties as a mum, couldn't leave, live a life wild and free.. and dangerous. 'Run your claw along my gut' is the hurt, hurt of impossible love, the worry when he's away, his agony I couldn't take away, the need to run off and do crazy things. It's agony to be with someone like that, even more not to be. Still if I had the choice I would. But I don't have that choice. And all I could do was let him go, wish him well on a dark path.
..and I enjoyed the Cruachan version too.