First We Take Manhattan

Well, I thought a lot about the meaning of this song, and my conclusion is it has very little to do with terrorism, unless you call the music of Britney Spears and her kind terrorism (and I must admit I'm inclined to).

To me this is a song about a guy who's realized he can't run from his destiny, and his true calling is music and poetry:

"They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom For trying to change the system from within"

Singer/songwriter ignored by the know-it-alls. Could even be he's talking about Bob Dylan or probably himself.

"I'm coming now I'm coming to reward them First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin"

He's back, he's better, and he's ready now (which he also states later on in the song).

"I'm guided by a signal in the heavens I'm guided by this birthmark on my skin"

It's his destiny. He was born into this world to change it through his art.

"I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin"

Music is his weapon. Today his country, tomorrow the world!

"I'd really like to live beside you, baby I love your body and your spirit and your clothes But you see that line there moving through the station? I told you I told you I told you I was one of those"

He'd like to settle down, but life on the road is his way. He doesn't have the mind of a settler, husband, whatever.

"You loved me as a loser But now you're worried that I just might win You know the way to stop me But you don't have the discipline"

He's starting to get recognized. She knows that this means he'll be on the road even more often, and it's easy to stop him by giving him an ultimatum, but she feels it's not right.

"How many nights I prayed for this: to let my work begin First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin"

He's practiced, he knows what people want, he knows what he wants, and so it all begins. Finally the masses will hear his message.

"I don't like your fashion business, mister And I don't like these drugs that keep you thin I don't like what happened to your system First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin"

He doesn't care much for the pop industry where image is everything.

"And thank you for those items that you sent me The monkey and the plywood violin"

From "mere" poetry to song lyrics/music. He has certainly developed a lot.

"I practiced every night and now I'm ready First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin"

As said before, he's ready to spread the word.

"Remember me, I used to live for music Remember me, I brought your groceries in"

He tried to be a regular man in the street, but it's not his way. He used to live in his own little musical world, and now he's come out into the real one.

"It's Father's Day and everybody's wounded First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin"

He'd like to stay at home, but it's really not his way. He has to follow his calling.

Well, there you have it - my interpretation of this excellent song. I apologize if my thoughts are hard to follow sometimes, but after all I am Norwegian. ;)