I think this song is about a seventeen/eighteen year old leaving home and a tough childhood behind him/her. In the beginning, it seems like the 'you' is specifically someone he/she loves, whether that's a sibling, an old friend or maybe a first love.
"Padded by locks the door knob singed
A rusty close to a doorknob hinge
Remembering the sounds we used to know"
I think this verse is talking about locking away the memories the kids have of their earlier childhood and how it hurts to try and remember them
"But when those sounds sang from our halls
The backstop pressed against bleached walls
Do you remember the sound of snow?"
In this verse, the sounds singing means the memories that keep escaping, and how by 'bleaching the walls' they're trying to wipe all memories clean as though they never existed, but the 'sound of snow' is a good memory they share together that neither really wants to forget.
The chorus and verse afterwards:
"So I said follow me down this time
I wrote the rules but you've got the time
So can you help me
I've got to break free from these chains oh from these chains"
I interpret as wanting to stay with this person you love but knowing you also have to leave this place (whether the place is an actual town, house, or just who you used to be)
"Your eyes they fall before us
Your sighs are all around
Inside the walls have fallen
And now, you're all alone”
There, I think the 'you' changes to the person that maybe made the childhood tough, whether that's an abusive or neglective parent, or maybe just somebody who wasn't there for them in the way they wanted. Now, the kids feel empowered by their ability to leave, and they're previous resentment comes out in this verse.
I think this song is about a seventeen/eighteen year old leaving home and a tough childhood behind him/her. In the beginning, it seems like the 'you' is specifically someone he/she loves, whether that's a sibling, an old friend or maybe a first love.
"Padded by locks the door knob singed A rusty close to a doorknob hinge Remembering the sounds we used to know" I think this verse is talking about locking away the memories the kids have of their earlier childhood and how it hurts to try and remember them
"But when those sounds sang from our halls The backstop pressed against bleached walls Do you remember the sound of snow?" In this verse, the sounds singing means the memories that keep escaping, and how by 'bleaching the walls' they're trying to wipe all memories clean as though they never existed, but the 'sound of snow' is a good memory they share together that neither really wants to forget.
The chorus and verse afterwards: "So I said follow me down this time I wrote the rules but you've got the time So can you help me I've got to break free from these chains oh from these chains" I interpret as wanting to stay with this person you love but knowing you also have to leave this place (whether the place is an actual town, house, or just who you used to be)
"Your eyes they fall before us Your sighs are all around Inside the walls have fallen And now, you're all alone” There, I think the 'you' changes to the person that maybe made the childhood tough, whether that's an abusive or neglective parent, or maybe just somebody who wasn't there for them in the way they wanted. Now, the kids feel empowered by their ability to leave, and they're previous resentment comes out in this verse.
I don't know though, just a thought.