Shallow

I think this song to be about a shallowness of emotional expressions. The narrator is a sensitive man who grows "so weary I'll surrender". The narrator is also a conformist who will "let them lead the way" because he's afraid of conflict. Ultimately, the narrator equates solitude with safety from the threat of someone breaking through his facade of emotional strength.

Instead of the world holding him back from non-conformity as Java suggests, I think the narrator is holding himself back from being deep by clinging to "pre-written scenes" (trying to act cool). This is also evidenced by the world viewing him as "gracious [classy and refined] for my patience" despite his arrogant pride that masks the true depth of his torrential river of emotions.

This is my another favorite poets of the fall song. I think the song is about being individualistic. He wants to be different, but sometimes the world doesn't let him be so. Despite this, he stands up being strong.

I think it's about a relationship that's pretty much dead. They barely even talk, there aren't any emotions left, but it grew comfortable and it'd be too hard to break things up and be all alone, too shameful to admit that the love they once fought for is now gone. So they just surrender, living their life with each other while feeling alone, always holding back, evading arguments and acting like everything's fine so their masks won't break to show the lack of feelings and connection. Knowing other marriages/relationships around them that are pretty much the same makes them believe that this is how things are bound to go and they accept it as a way of life.