Governor

Guys and gals you are reading too much into this - whole album is themed around overcoming addiction and these are the "sounds of salvation" Nick and the gang were huge heroin junkies at height and swift decline of Northstar so this is clearly his introspective journey played out in song and there is progression in the songs. Governor, well a governor rules over you and fittingly this first song refers to Northstar out on tour realizing that this "coma of factory (production) and playing bars wont last" because they are all doped up all the time and that becomes more important than anything, music, career-relationships im sure..Old year is about using again crashing down like iron, trading arms for wings of harm and becoming unhinged as delve deeper into addiction. American low may or may not be personal but reveals the homeless plight and disease that is afllicting our cities and towns, and how everyone has forgotten these people and writes them off, ignores them, "paints them black" and now and then throw a dollar to feel good about themselves as they wear their poshest scarves on the hottest days. New jerusalum is a little more obscure but as name suggests its trading the old place of worship for something new and think this song symbolizes turning point and desire to get off drugs. Tin mans throne is litteraly about going throw withdrawals time and mother nature used to reference pain and time being only thing that can cure. Tin throne blown to kingdom come references how heroin had made him feel invincible and satisfied at first but that drugs honeymoon period ends after 6-12 months and then realize everything it was built on was made of and elevating you was weak fragile tin and now its destroyed and you are at the very bottom. References to how fell into weight of one, pile on the bend, unbalanced brain chemicals, everything to phantom pains on bones, pure exhaustion one feels going through this etc...Platano is about AA clearly...becoming prophets everyday, struggle of it all how years of addiction has left "emperors new clothes, i.e your birthday suit" sagging, feeling old and knowing that deep down you could make the grind better by going back to the drug. Dust went flying is segue into sobriety and gin war is reflective of years used to use and the constant struggle. Boomerang seems to be about relapse and constant struggle against the creature lurking in the night with its claws who will pull you right back. Lolita is about Northstar and remembering it fondly and how it died but this is his new engine of love, Cassino. Ice factory is about repairing relationships and leaning on loved ones for support and slowing starting to rebuild life - basically salvation is not guaranteed or assured but ever more attainable at this stage and hes lucky to have his loved ones still by him implying he fucked them over in past when he was a user.