When I Get to the Green Building

Actually, Dick said in an interview on Skratch Magazine (http://www.skratchmagazine.com/interviews/interviews.php?id=299) that the building was a green Domino's Farm building, and that trying to get into that place was a "metaphor for death."

You can see that in the last part of the song, there are a bunch of near-death situations, a glass-heart that is hidden so it can't be broken, who gets to live & die on thrill rides, and gamblers (which may not be a near-death situation, but, sometimes desperate near-death times call for desperate gambling measures). The final image in the song of someone ringing the doorbell on the green building symbolizes a confrontation with death. "Isn't it interesting?" really is asking about life in general and how we (as human beings) deal with death.

He makes clear references to the afterlife and death in the lyrics "Satan's cheerleaders" "selling our children's souls" and "angels and demons."

If you look at "my arrival will be televised when I get to the green building" it's really about arriving in heaven or hell. This may be talking about celebrities (seeing as E6 is a relatively popular band...Although personally, I think they deserve more credit than they get) and how celebrity death's are publicized. This may also be about our desires as humans to be remembered when we're gone.

There are tons of bizarre images that could be indications of heaven or hell throughout the song. For example, cheerleaders dancing around a maypole in the cold month of December. Maypole dancing is usually done in May, a warm month, but is instead done in a cold month. Plus, the cheerleaders are "Satan's cheerleaders" which is pretty magical in and of itself. Angels & demons holding hands & whistling 'Dixie.'--Angels & demons are obviously not supposed to be friends, but in the song, they are, and they even whistle together. These are both strange images that most likely happen in larger-than-life places, such as heaven or hell. Also, these images show contrasts of what should be happening with what is happening, which can be interpreted as indications of the in-between stages of the soul. Perhaps the person in the song has finally died, and is therefore seeing "spectacles" for the first time in a long time.

It is important to note that "the demon sings" when the "doorbell rings at the green building." Since Dick said that getting into the building is a metaphor for death, it shows that the character in the song is probably going to hell, as indicated by the demon singing. The character rings the doorbell, which is a final confrontation with death.

For me the song has fairly strong political references and meanings with particular reference to American politics and foreign policy . Whistling Dixie, is the first reference to this. A tune associated with the old fashioned deep south of America as shown by our friend here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNtMpPFM7M0 . The next reference is "we haven't had that kind of fun here since 1960", 1960 being the year that John Kennedy defeated Nixon in the battle for presidency of the United States, although he was sworn in in 1961. Why John F Kennedy in a song about US foreign policy? It was Kennedy's presidency which was dominated by cold conflict with Russia. Which is referred to in the following line "we wait in longer lines than the Russians ever did" This is a comparison of 1960s US foreign policy to modern day foreign policy and troops enrolling now and then. This theme is expanded in the next line "selling our children's souls to the highest bid" meaning US politicians sending the youth of America to die in wars many argue are for the sake of oil. "When I get to the green building" which building, and what it refers to exactly, metaphorically or otherwise, is unclear. But what is more significant for me is the line "my arrival will be televised" who does not remember the footage of Saddam's statue being torn down in Iraq once it was conqured by US forces? Again this is digging at the morality of US foreign policy. Further references that give this song a political orientation for me are "our fearless leaders" perhaps an ironic statement as they remain behind a desk while "our children" are sent out to war. "When they're all such cheaters and they have no shame And isn't it interesting to hear the demons sing? When the doorbell rings At the green building" To me this comes across as a referrence to politicians and propaganda (the demons song). The lyrics to the song also reinforce that opinion on US foreign policy is a subjective matter, "every point of view on this depends on who you ask" which is very much true for politics. Although it does come across that the writter certainly has a negative and jaded view of politics and the truth behing politicians motivations. There are other references in the song which can be interpreted politically, but I will leave them for you to find. And. Of Course. This is just my opinion.

There are a lot of great themes here but for me it's about the mystery of death and things ending- I feel like the first verse is about the singer's own personal death, and the second deals more with the end of the United States (or at least, its promising dream) due to our corruption, hypocrisy, and poor policies.

In both cases, "it doesn't matter any way." Death comes to people and will come to our nation eventually/soon. Yet it is mysterious - and like the coda says, interesting. We're mystified by endings despite their inevitability.

One of my fave songs from the album. So pretty.

I believe it's about politicians/world leaders.

The first verse (sung by a narrator) is about the state of a nation (presumably the US) or the world as a whole.

The politician then steps forth and delivers a line which sounds full of hope, but without any real meaning (Just like real politicians), and announces that he's going to be on TV. (So he must be someone important)

The second verse (again narrated) is about the moral bankruptcy of these leaders, who aren't achieving a whole lot; "...it doesn't matter anyway..."

Again more hollow sentences from the leader(s).

The final verse is the most powerful. The narrator becomes darkly sarcastic as he comments on the leaders toying with people's lives without shame. The song ends with the idea that these politicians are pleasing demons/the Devil through their work, which is a pretty serious claim.

I think it may be about the UN. I've no idea if the UN HQ is a green building, but if you're trying to think of green buildings around the world right now, then I believe you've missed the point of the song. --Just my two cents, I could be way off the mark.

I think this song is about the New World Order, The Masons, and Bohemian Grove. If you don't know what I'm talking about you should research it! Especially the Bohemian Grove.

The song is actually about going to a bar.... The Green Building is The Blarney Stone in Berkley Michigan. Cheddarrr, you should look up The Pentaverate, its much more powerful than any of the groups you are talking about.