Duel

This song is very difficult to interpret. I think the title 'Duel' implies some sort of internal struggle (evidenced also by the music - the shift at 4:04 from a blazing rocker to softer guitars and peaceful ocean sounds is a drastic contrast).

The most telling lyric is:

"The tightropes wound around Just one slip and you tumble down"

To me, whomever is being sung to is given a very clear ultimatum - watch your step or you'll lose everything. This could be love, as evidenced by:

"You've been away for so long You can't ask why"

which implies a loved one who has recently returned to the singer's life.

"A million stars out tonight Could spark neon from candlelight"

The imagery of this passage clearly evokes a feeling of love.

The only thing that doesn't seem to fit well is:

"I'm goin' down, down to the market place Goin' to learn to give I'm goin' down, down by the sea market side Goin' to learn to live"

This seems to mean the singer wishes to grow as well.

I can only surmise that the internal struggle is between the wish to change and the wish for his former lover to change. The question - whatever came between them, whose fault is it?

From what Adam Franklin (lead singer) has said, the movie "Duel" was an inspiration for this song. Steven Spielberg directed this movie.

As far as i know, this song is based on the Film of the same name, directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Richard Matheson

If you pay attention to the instruments and not the lyrics, it makes sense.

Altough the lyrics take an alternate take which has little to no relation to the movie, maybe it's a song about depression, family problems, long lost love, war? (Also, i see little to no relation to suicide, but maybe it has relation to death, if you pay attention to the ending ot fhe full version of the song)

Anyway, i think this is the meaning (on my point of view, at the very least):

- "You've been away for so long You can't ask why You've been away You can't ask why"

The person said in this part might be a lover, a friend, a relative, a good known one, guardian?

"A million stars out tonight Could spark neon from candlelight One million stars Could spark neon from candlelight"

This is the part which i don't understand. Maybe is just a poem to this person?

"I'm goin' down, down to the market place Goin' to learn to give I'm goin' down, down by the sea market side Goin' to learn to live"

This part makes me wonder if this part of the song is a runaway from this person or someone else?

"The tightropes wound around Just one slip and you tumble down The ropes wrapped around Just one slip and you tumble down One slip and you tumble down"

This part of the song might be about a love lost or death of someone in particular. Maybe a lethal battle too?

"I'm goin' down, down to the market place Goin' to learn to give I'm goin' down, down by the sea market side Goin' to learn to live"

Maybe in this part either the "protagonist" is giving up of everything and everyone (wherever is the reason) and moving away to a new place and starting over or he is dead and went to heaven. Specially if you pay attention to the ending of the FULL song, not the radio or MV version.

And as it said very before: "This song is very difficult to interpret. I think the title 'Duel' implies some sort of internal struggle (evidenced also by the music - the shift at 4:04 from a blazing rocker to softer guitars and peaceful ocean sounds is a drastic contrast)"...

I am a depressive person, so i could agree the lyrics of the song might be about some kind of struggle (internal, family, love, job, financial, loan sharks, ect...)

This song means alot to me because the first time I heard it I had to be about 9 years old, playing some kooky racing game called RoadRash. Why did no one post comments on this song? It's great! It's about someone committing suicide, I believe. He says he's going to learn to give and then he's talking about the rope being wrapped around his neck like hanging someone, then slipping and dying. But that is my interpretation, as I've known this song for eight years.