Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Hey there, son of Adam
Hey there, daughter of Eve
Help me sing this tear gas riot song
For some fresh-faced police
They won't even know what hit them
When they lift their Roman shades
And the people's sun comes pouring in
On a brand new day
You who dammed the river
You changed our mountain's name
First we want Denali back
Then we're taking over Washington state
You get death as a consolation
You know only hate and rage
You paid a dowry for your child bride
And now she's living like a slave
A prayer came down the wire
It was all in the enemy's code
You couldn't figure out what mercy meant
So you did like you were told
When they finally sent the doctors
Once the fireball went out
There was nothing left but the cockroaches
And a movie with no sound
What good, what good are you
With your Cherokee trail and your Roosevelt Room?
What good, what good are you
With your Seneca plague and your Arlington tomb?
Go ask Hunter Thompson
Go ask Hemingway's ghost
It all catches up with you
Once you get just a little too old
Take a hard look in the mirror
It's a thing that you cannot see
Your shadow's long but the day is young
It just wasn't meant to be
There's no blankets for the winter
There's no oil in the lamp
And I'd like to write my congressman
But I can't afford the stamp
You want me to pay my taxes
So you can propagate your lie
While there's barefoot dudes down in New Orleans
Looking like they're going to die
You who quote the legends
You who poisoned all of my dreams
You who pinned all of the medals on
All those boys from Omaha Beach
Hope you haven't got too lazy
I know you like your apple pie
Because the working poor you've been pissing on
Are doing double shifts tonight
What good, what good are you
With your Seneca plague and your Arlington tomb?
What good, what good are you
With your Cherokee trail and your Roosevelt Room?
Hey there, daughter of Eve
Help me sing this tear gas riot song
For some fresh-faced police
They won't even know what hit them
When they lift their Roman shades
And the people's sun comes pouring in
On a brand new day
You who dammed the river
You changed our mountain's name
First we want Denali back
Then we're taking over Washington state
You get death as a consolation
You know only hate and rage
You paid a dowry for your child bride
And now she's living like a slave
A prayer came down the wire
It was all in the enemy's code
You couldn't figure out what mercy meant
So you did like you were told
When they finally sent the doctors
Once the fireball went out
There was nothing left but the cockroaches
And a movie with no sound
What good, what good are you
With your Cherokee trail and your Roosevelt Room?
What good, what good are you
With your Seneca plague and your Arlington tomb?
Go ask Hunter Thompson
Go ask Hemingway's ghost
It all catches up with you
Once you get just a little too old
Take a hard look in the mirror
It's a thing that you cannot see
Your shadow's long but the day is young
It just wasn't meant to be
There's no blankets for the winter
There's no oil in the lamp
And I'd like to write my congressman
But I can't afford the stamp
You want me to pay my taxes
So you can propagate your lie
While there's barefoot dudes down in New Orleans
Looking like they're going to die
You who quote the legends
You who poisoned all of my dreams
You who pinned all of the medals on
All those boys from Omaha Beach
Hope you haven't got too lazy
I know you like your apple pie
Because the working poor you've been pissing on
Are doing double shifts tonight
What good, what good are you
With your Seneca plague and your Arlington tomb?
What good, what good are you
With your Cherokee trail and your Roosevelt Room?
Lyrics submitted by strangelight
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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Punchline
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Amazing
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Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Like trippysq said, this seems like more of a commentary on American politics than an outright protest song. I say that because some of the lyrics seem to reference historical controversies, and rant on certain policies he doesn't agree with moving forward through time.
The first verse is simple enough. He's expressing his desire to rise up (people's sun) and lead a revolution (brand new day).
The second verse references Mount McKinley which had been known as Denali by the Alaskan natives until some politician changed the name to support William McKinley's presidential campaign. I'm not sure what the beef is with Washington state, but I'm assuming something similar. I think the last two lines about the dowry are about women's rights (or the lack thereof) in the old days when men would essentially sell their daughters as soon as they had "flowered" for better political standing.
The next verse I think is a reference to the atom bombs because cockroaches are said to be resistant to radiation, and there are those black and white silent clips of the mushroom clouds from the explosions. Thus, "there was nothing left but the cockroaches and a movie with no sound!" The first part of the verse is questioning how the crews of the Enola Gay and Bockscar could find the moral grounds to follow the order to drop the bombs. "You couldn't figure out what mercy meant so you did like you were told." (ironically i just read something about how both of those planes were built in Omaha, Conor's home town)
The fourth verse is a little trickier and seems to get away from the political theme of the others. I'm not familiar with Hunter Thompson, but I believe Hemingway killed himself mainly out of frustration with his writing career. So "it all catches up with you" is probably referring to people's struggle to find success and the pressure they feel because of it.
The fifth verse is more straightforward. I don't know what lie he's talking about that's being propagated, but he's clearly as angry about the current economic situation as anyone.
The sixth verse is a shot at upper class society types as well as the military higher ups. Omaha Beach was of course the sight of the allied invasion of wwII.
the chorus seems to be a criticism of the american presidency in general. The roosevelt room is a room in the white house where the president meets with his cabinet.
That's all I've got, sorry it's a little long-winded.
"We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel...I feel like it is a modern day version but much more complicated and it is tough to completely understand what he is saying...
I think more than anything, Mystic Valley Band is Oberst's Crazy Horse. "Roosevelt Room" in particular gave chills and reminded me of the first time I listened to "Rockin in the Free World." It's riff is also very "Helter Skelter-ish." I think this is probably the best song on the new album. I love it.
i thought this was a bright eyes song?
well, it's on Outer South, so I'm gonna say it's not any more...
and no its Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band....PS they really jammed when they played it
Best song on 'Outer South'
It was a Bright Eyes song, they played it at the Hollywood Bowl in '07 during the encore.
Hunter S. Thompson and Hemingway both committed suicide by shooting themselves in the head. It gave me chills when he shouted that line at Coachella.
oh my god, i know what you mean. i was there too when he shouted it. :[<br /> <br /> but! when he shouted, "what good, what good are you?" he sounded so intense! it was beautiful!
great song. def the best on the new cd