There is some merit to what has been said about naive conceptions of the world and how to change it, but this song screams human pride to me. We convince ourselves of mankind's progress but its really a mirage, ie we end up on the floor, not really having progressed anywhere from our selfishness and arrogance. We are building towers without firm foundation because they are of this faulty vision of human progress. We have no firm foundation because we are building towers on the illusion of mankind's moving into the future better than he was in the past.
"Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to fit the vision, instead we are always changing the vision." - G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, 1908
Ok, I have never chimed in on any of the song meanings i have read; i just like to read them. But i feel i really have an understanding for this song. And I have read all of the previous comments, and some of them have parts of the whole correct, but no one can pin point the entire piece as a unit. So here it goes...
First of all, I have to start with THE most important lyrics in the song, which coincidentally happens to be the chorus. And I only saw two people comment on these lines. "We set sail, with no fixed star in sight. We drive by, braille and candlelight." Dustin is using the classic metaphor twice here. Back in the day, when there were seamen, anytime they left the dock they fixated on a certain star (which would be a direction) and sailed towards that point. So by saying 'we set sail with no fixed star in sight,' dustin is essentially saying that we have no idea where we are going. We are going, but we dont know where to. The second line is more of the same. 'We drive by braille and candlelight.' Anyone can realize that he is saying that we (as a people) are blind. And by candlelight? Its awfully tough to see in candlelight. You cant. So in essence, in this line, he is stating that we are blind and cant see where we are going. Now to the rest of the song.
We talk too much, we talk in circles- till we're all spinnin round. Reachin for rings, on this merry-go-round. I believe dustin is meaning exactly what he says. "We talk too much". Not enough doing. then we reach for the brass ring, trying to get a free ride, instead of working for it...
"The scenery spins, we call it progress, but ive seen this all before. When all is said and done, we'll wake up on the floor." here dustin is just saying that time goes by, and we(as a people) just say it is progress, whether it is or not. When all is said and done, we'll wake up on the floor. I believe he is claiming that after all of the shenanigans, we will all be dead one day laying on the floor (in the ground), but WAKING up to our real life in heaven.
Then the chorus....
anyway, you get my drift. if you want my response to the second verse give me some feedback, and id be more than happy to do that. And btw, I absolutely LOVE thrice!!! been a fan for sooooo long.
I think this song is pretty well wrapped up in the last line of the second verse. We're drones that go through life wanting the world to change but never doing anything to change it.
This is probably my favorite song off the album. And you know I never thought of it like that
"True progress means, matching the world to, the vision in our heads We always change the vision instead "
That's the part the hit me the hardest.
"Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to fit the vision, instead we are always changing the vision." - G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, 1908
"Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to fit the vision, instead we are always changing the vision." - G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, 1908
My favorite song on this album.
This is one of the best songs I have ever heard in my entire life.
seems that dustin is saying that we all conform and give up hope on changing anything in our world. depressing but true. you either conform or get cast out. the circle of life...
"Till we're all spinning round reaching for rings on this merry-go-round"
This line reminds me of Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye. Its about growing up and loosing your innocence one way or another
what a song.
what a song.
we all have great ideas for our world, but thats all they are - ideas. as long as the people at the top are ruled by greed the world will always be what it is.
we all have great ideas for our world, but thats all they are - ideas. as long as the people at the top are ruled by greed the world will always be what it is.
the little people think they cant do anything because how can they fight against the rest? what we dont realise is that if we all worked together we could make the world the place it should be, not the current war torn husk that we reside within.
the little people think they cant do anything because how can they fight against the rest? what we dont realise is that if we all worked together we could make the world the place it should be, not the current war torn husk that we reside within.
im glad thrice understand this and i hope all thrice fans think along these lines.
im glad thrice understand this and i hope all thrice fans think along these lines.
This is such a great song. Lyricalrockstar, I agree, that line reminds me of Holden as well. The last line of the second verse could be saying that when you're younger, you have all of these notions in your head on how you can change things for the better, but then you grow up and realize it's not that easy, and so people forget about it and "change the vision instead."