Modern Man

I'm replying to casmirpulaski because he seems to be the closest so far. But I think this song has a more targeted meaning, the pursuit of happiness (american dream) and the rat race (corporate ladder) and corporate culture<br /> <br /> Right from the beginning:<br /> So I wait my turn, I'm a modern man <br /> (business man, corporate man, followin rules to get to the top eventually)<br /> <br /> In my dream I was almost there<br /> (dreaming of being at the top of the ladder and living the american DREAM)<br /> And you pulled me aside and said you're going nowhere<br /> (in reality the machine just chews everyone, for most, the best to hope for is a modest sum to live frugally through old age, if you save wisely, but the point is that you've spent your whole life devoted to this pursuit and in reality you're not going to have much to show for it so you've not really "gone anywhere")<br /> They say we are the chosen few<br /> (promises of promotion?)<br /> But we're wasted<br /> (almost all people feel like they're underutilized in their current position)<br /> And that's why we're still waiting<br /> (waiting till we've made it?)<br /> On a number from the modern man<br /> <br /> Maybe when you're older you will understand<br /> Why you don't feel right<br /> Why you can't sleep at night now<br /> <br /> This song just really resonates with me right now. I've been working after college for about 4 years now and I am making decent money but I'm still way in debt and i just bought a house and now i'm in super debt. It will take like 20 years to get a positive net worth and that's if i stay frugal and dont buy nice things. 4 years I've been working and I've hardly even dented my school loans. All this to say that I've come to realize that I will never be super rich no matter what. And I have a really good job. But say you're making 75k (that's good right). In reality you might save 20k a yr, that makes you a millionaire in 50 years...(less if you count interest)....but there's people out there making millions all day, there's people out there with trillions, that's a million millions...and you just have one...after spending your whole life to get it...it's just not worth it...<br /> <br /> The answer? the answer is to go out and do something you love, that you enjoy, and not worry about ever having money...try to make a decent living at it if you can but otherwise you're only going to sleep at night if you're actively involved in things that mean something to you. <br /> Me? I'm in a cubicle running the rat race and I can't sleep at night because I'm not doing anything that motivates me or makes me feel alive. I just work sleep eat watch the zombietube.<br /> <br /> I'm being too hard on myself but you get the point.<br /> On another note what an effing awesome beat in the verse! this is driving me insane. the verse actually sounds like a record that is skipping, they're doing either a 9 step beat or a 3/3 but if they're doing a 3, they still play a 4, 4 and then a 1 beat hiccup = 9, instead of 3 3 3 like a waltz. CRAZY AWESOME

Sorry just reiterating what I feel is the main crucial point is. The record skipping I feel is the main point of this song, that's why the music "skips" with the 9 step beat. I feel like I'm just doing the same thing over and over. I have the same feelings same anxieties, same habits. I promise I'm going to start playing music, work out every day, meditate; but in reality I just work and not work. If I'm not working I don't want to do any work (self improvement), so my whole life is cyclical in nature like the skipping record.

As a wandering post-collegiate 20-something, I couldn't agree more. I feel like this song is about having grown up- having that 9-5 job and having done all the right things, but realizing that you're unsatisfied with what your life is. This line especially-<br /> <br /> In my dream I was almost there<br /> And you pulled me aside and said you're going nowhere<br /> <br /> I think that's you almost being content having accomplished what you set out to do when you were young- you've become an adult, you're a man now. But you aren't satisfied, you've seen the monotony of life and you ask yourself- is this it? Yes I have a job and am a stable adult now, but is this really all life has to offer? <br /> <br /> "Like a record that's skipping, and the clock keeps ticking"- to me that line sums up best what this song is about. Realizing that life is monotonous, that you're running out of time- and your dissatisfaction with that fact. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />