You're Too Cool

"Love don't live at home, oh no, it slithers in the wild"

• You can't find love by sitting around in your comfort zone; you have to go out into the world. Even if you do that, though, it's a very elusive thing, as our narrator is about to find out.

"I met her at the Biltmore, she was cold and over-styled Took all my money and took all my pride"

• He took a shot at love with someone cold and superficial. She was more than happy to take advantage of his intentions, but didn't even humour him. She instantly deflated his hopes.

"She may not be a pharaoh, but she guzzled down the Nile."

• In ancient times (i.e. the era of the pharaohs) the Nile is what gave life to Egypt through trade, agriculture, etc. This person about whom he is talking is apparently so unpleasant that she sucked all the life out of the situation. She only cares about her own well-being.

"I can tell we'll never be safe 'Til the walls fall down. Every morning chipping away 'Til the walls fall down."

• This is about him trying to break down the walls that separate us. In this early part of the song, he's referring specifically to his attempts to do this in his unfortunate relationship.

"Won't you cry on my shoulder, won't you laugh at my jokes? It's okay to relax in this forest of folks 'Cause nobody's aiming a stick at your spokes So won't you cry on my shoulder, won't you laugh at my jokes?"

• Now he's giving it another go. He's trying to get her to loosen up; to confide in him; to let out her feelings; to express her sense of humour. He's introducing her to his friends and creating a safe place for her to express herself. She, of course, is having none of it. She is either too uptight or just doesn't care.

"I'm wide awake, I'm wide awake, I'm wide awake I'm wide awake, I'm wide awake, I'm wide awake"

• He has given up on this relationship. He's been "awakened" to the hopelessness of the situation.

"But now you're back in town (I know you want to) To show your New York crown (Oh oh) But now you're much too proud (You're too cool) But now you're much too proud (You're too cool) You're too cool."

• Now she's come back into his life and she's all about being open, but it's only because she has something new to show off. She is no less superficial or self-centred than before. If anything, she's worse now, and he knows it. Now that he knows what sort of person she is, he's not even dignifying her with acknowledgement.

"On the road I dream of home and when at home I dream of action." Our apartments are all haunted by the ghost of satisfaction. 'Cause we all want something that's bigger than fashion."

• Now that the short-lived relationship is over, he's taking some time for introspection. He realizes that he's never satisfied with where he is. When he's out in the world he wants to be back in his comfort zone, but when he's in his comfort zone, he wants to be shaken up.

-He also realizes here that there are many people in the world in his same position: they are restless creatures searching for true satisfaction, but they keep having to deal with the least satisfying of people: superficial individuals who are not the least interested in truly deep love.

"So spill out your heart brother, show me your passion Spill out your heart sister, show me your passion."

• He calls on these people, his brothers and sisters in passion, restlessness and dissatisfaction, to reveal themselves so that humanity as a whole can be happier.

"I can tell we'll never be safe 'Til the walls fall down. Every morning chipping away 'Til the walls fall down."

• This is again about trying to break down barriers, but in this context, it's more a call to do so for everyone who actually has some depth.