Stable Song

This is one of those songs in which the interpretation of it's meaning can vary tremendously. I know that it was stated somewhere what Ben Gibbard said the song meant, and upon hearing it it makes perfect sence. But right now i'd like to share what I thought the first time I heard it last year:

I had believed that "Stable Song" was about a transition from high school life to college life.

"Time for the final bow (or bout), rows of deserted houses. All our stable mates highway bound."

This is the final goodbye, this person is leaving home and embarking on this new chapter. His friends no longer occupy the houses they used to live in, as they are heading out for college as well, so to him, these houses are "deserted". His friends and he are leaving thier seperate ways, closing the book on thier high school careers. "All our stable mates highway bound".

"Give us our measly sum. Getting the air inside my lungs is heavenly, starting out with nothing but crippling doubt."

This person is now at college, probably working a job that is less than helpful to his financial needs - he may make minimum wage. "Give us our measly sum". He realizes that he is entirely on his own for the first time and any sliver of release from his stress is a breath of fresh air, "Getting the air inside my lungs is heavenly". To begin with, he was stressed along and may have doubted whether he was ready for this transition or not. "Starting out with nothing but crippling doubt".

"We'll rest easy, justified".

He is telling himself that he can relax and "rest easy" when it is proven that he can, indeed, make it on his own.

"Suffered a swift defeat, I'll endure countless repeats. The gift of memory's an awful curse. With age it just gets much worse, but I wont mind".

During what little down time he may have, he remembers his high school life, perhaps specifically a break-up he isn't over quite yet. He knows that this is how life goes, and prepares himself for the bumpy road ahead by saying he'll "endure countless repeats". He acknowledges that the more memories he remembers, the sadder he begins to feel, and perhaps the more homesick he feels as well; "With age it just gets much worse". But he then realizes that these feelings make him human, and that these memories are indeed his greatest possessions, so he "won't mind" that some may bother him.

I know this isnt the real meaning of the song, this is just merely what came to me the first time I heard it. What do you guys think?