Rusted Wheel

I just recently heard about this band and since dicovering them, I realized have acquired a new musical addiction. It's rare to find artists today that you grow instantly attracted to and enjoy all of their music...track one until the end...this has happened to me with SSPU. I bought the CD and instantly fell in love with the whole album, though this song in particular is my favorite. I love the sound of the music and the lyrics...as to the meaning of this song...this is what it says to me...

it's about standing still while time and the world passes you by, about not being able to move on in life. It's about having dreams that you can see but can't grasp..."so you can't hold a star in your hand though at least you can hold on to another plan" You can't reach them but at least you have a plan. The "rusted wheel planted still" is a metaphor for a person standing still. Picture an old rusted wheel planted in the ground (some people actually have these in their yards/gardens), the song goes through seasons, summer and winter while the rusted wheel is planted still. The end of the song changes the lyrics to "so you can't hold a star in your hand though at least you can move on to that better plan rusted wheel planted still, rusted wheel can't move on". I catch a hint of sarcasm and sadness with these lines. It's like saying yeah you have a plan, a dream, but you can't go forward, you can't move on.

Just earlier today i got this song so clear...its about being so happy to meet/see someone you love and because of a little arguing; she leaves immediately the place as no matter... Cuz You were hoping that time as if life remained on it; and the PLAN within involved such a beautiful amount of experiences as three SEASONS of the YEAR. But as we are energy moving (that sometimes, just like "A STAR", can burst) she did not liked something and instead of staying she just leave you... PLANTED...like thrown to the "GROUND". Therefore, you can tell its SUMMER...cozy and warm; suddenly she's no longer near and, skipping a whole season, its freezing...like WINTER...cold like the GROUND. And because its freezing you just "CANT MOVE ON". the SIZE of the time that you have being there as she MOVE ON TO A BETTER PLAN...make you feel like you were have been there for so long that you have already "RUSTED"

I think the vocal delivery on this song is amazing. Hea928 pretty much hit the meaning on the nose there: about the inability to move on and let go of his unrealistic dreams or ideals. I think the lyrics about the seasons and the "lump in my throat" and "bugs" thing illustrate that every year is the same for him and he gets the same feelings and sees the same things. i.e. nothing changes.

I really love the 'rusted wheel' metaphor as well.

I agree with the guys above about the meaning that it's about how many people have dreams, but don't pursue them and have to rely on their backup dreams. My favorite song by them

I get the feel that it's about how sometimes we are so disappointed with our failures that we get depressed and stuck in the situation instead of finding possibilities of a solution...the advice "at least you can move onto a better plan" gives hope for a solution. This band is brilliant -- it's one CD that I can plan over and over and never get tired of.

so the star you can't hold in your hand is the one you want but can't have, and another plan is how (to allude to some Stones' words) you get what you need. seasons move, people pass on- but the heart remains. and that infected wound from a rusty ring just keeps you hanging on for that one star you wish you could wish upon. how many more seasons will i stay hung up on her? -rusted wheel anonymous.

Came upon the band much like hea928 and fell in love as well. I have to say it took a while for any of the songs on the album beyond lazy eye to grow on me, but absolutely LOVE most of them now. Rusted Wheel is my second fave right now. When the drums kick in halfway through the song gets amazing.

I agree with hea928's interpretation. I will go further to note that the "size of the bugs" in winter and "lump in my throat" in summer are both negative connotations saying that the singer tells the season by the type of affliction that presents itself.

Going to the concert Friday where they perform with Snow Patrol and OK Go. Don't care too much about either of those but absolutely can't wait to see SSPU.

Ditto the two comments above. Yet another incredibly heartfelt and moving song from SSPU. Brian Aubert has one of those voices that instantly grabs you. It's unbelievable that this group isn't better known that it is, but perhaps that will change with their current US tour. lafan313: I just saw them last night. Their set was painfully short, just 5 songs and half an hour. Glad it included Kissing Families, though.

I agree w/ the above. This song is beautiful. I loved it from the first time I heard it. It gives me this flowy, surreal, dreamlike energy.

That's hold on to a better plan, not another plan. =] I'm quite fond of this song.