I think this song is about the disillusionment of growing up, family, responsibility, and the chase of The American Dream.
The first stanza is a commentary on the idealism of younger generations versus the desire of the rest of us who are "living to be heard", or wanting to feel like their lives are important or mean something more than the mundane existence they are in.
The first part of the chorus goes over the typical "American Dream" scenes: family, marriage, home, bills, losing touch with old friends, and career. It also illustrates that this is all we know and this is the life we have built for ourselves because of that. In other words, the epitome of happiness in our minds.
The second part of the chorus goes over the things we forget about when we are in the grind of daily life: neighbors and friends. It goes over the things we do to try to feel young. Men talk about girls and what they could of had. It also illustrates the typical things we do to unwind and relax, and comments again on, this is all we know and this is the life we have built for ourselves.
The last part of the song revisits the commentary from the first of the song and issues a challenge to younger generations: to try to understand what happiness really is, seek to find it, and never be pigeon-holed into the life that we THINK we should be in.
I think this song is about the disillusionment of growing up, family, responsibility, and the chase of The American Dream.
The first stanza is a commentary on the idealism of younger generations versus the desire of the rest of us who are "living to be heard", or wanting to feel like their lives are important or mean something more than the mundane existence they are in.
The first part of the chorus goes over the typical "American Dream" scenes: family, marriage, home, bills, losing touch with old friends, and career. It also illustrates that this is all we know and this is the life we have built for ourselves because of that. In other words, the epitome of happiness in our minds.
The second part of the chorus goes over the things we forget about when we are in the grind of daily life: neighbors and friends. It goes over the things we do to try to feel young. Men talk about girls and what they could of had. It also illustrates the typical things we do to unwind and relax, and comments again on, this is all we know and this is the life we have built for ourselves.
The last part of the song revisits the commentary from the first of the song and issues a challenge to younger generations: to try to understand what happiness really is, seek to find it, and never be pigeon-holed into the life that we THINK we should be in.