| Rise Against – Paper Wings Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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In my opinion this song revolves around a single persons own life and the decisions he makes. The first lines describes the story "Icarus" from greek mythology. It shows that a person with hope, courage and a great potential can throw it all away by some false motivation and following the wrong path. As this person has a form of bravery and courage to fly a large distance as she follows this path though the wings are made of paper. Using "paper wings" works as an image that implies futility and thus this person flies a futile path. As their bravery flares this life finally crumbles, as it would have all along. Sending the person spiraling down, this image shows a time of depression or a breaking down of the protagonists blind hopes and dreams. Furthermore, the next lines "landing somewhere far from here with no one else around, to catch you falling down and im looking at you now" shows that as this person followed this futile life that she has lost anyone who could have been there for her and the speaker was once there for her. A deeper meaning can be found in "i cant tell if your laughing, between each smile theres a tear in your eye" that revolves around this life that she is leading. It describes how though she is happy with her achievements in this life, she doesnt truly show happiness as this life is one "that [she] follows" and not one that she leads. As mentioned by someone...the next lines shows that one must pursue their own lives, dreams and hopes guided by their potential and that it might require leaving those you love behind. As "loneliverock" mentioned, it has implications to potential, especially in the next lines. though these lines can have two meanings."swing for the fences son" is advice given to that child to jump high and be the best could either be "go for the highest place" (being a life that he follows) or "become the best of who you are" (being a life that he leads). Straight after this the lines follow with "a conversation you took nothing from" meaning that this boy did not listen to the advice. Again the next line can have two meanings "raise your glass now celebrate exactly what youve done youve just put off another year of knowing where your from" creating the image of a toast to the child ignoring his family heratige (passing down of a certain life path - a business or something of that sort). The second image contains a slight sarcasm and thus putting emphasis on the point htat the child contains potential though he is throwing it away. The following line works as a motivational expression towards the child this can be seen as he says "you can catch up with yourself if you run...." that though he is falling behind in his life due to his failure if he runs he can pick his "road" back up. The last lines reffers back to the girl, possibly in comparison to the boy. The speaker is giving a retorical question asking them is that the life that "[they] lead or the life thats lead for [them]" then the speaker simply says "as they both follow different paths will they meet again?" seen in the line "will we cross paths somewhere else tonight?" |
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