Approximate Sunlight

Hes commenting on the the postmodern nature of society, how everything we imagined as children is realized in maturity to be a falsified replication of past romanticized ideals. The Quinceañera dress verses are probably a commentary on the violence in Latin American countries associated with drugs. Its a difficult situation to analyze since innocent deaths are obviously not "fair," but neither is the fact that the people performing the violence are merely acting out of necessity to earn money to provide for their family's. "Now you are how you were when you were real ," I think is a contemplation on what Truth is, and the revelation of it. Is it only a reflection of your own distorted perceptions or is it like how it was when "you were real," honest and pure as in the time of your childhood, which paradoxically may have been a distorted perception itself.

This is such a great and complex song! I expecially love the title, and how it fits in with the verses.

I think it's about how he once thought at a young age that the world was huge and complex and one day he would experience it all. but in the first verse i think he is saying that the world is a show. "the crowd was small and mostly blind" says that none of the people really know or understand the vast complexities of the world, so they're blind. and they are small compared to everything. but i think he's realized all this is false, and now that he knows this and experienced everything, he is almost back to where he started. confused still and looking at the world as a mystery. the way he thought when he was young, but in a different way this time. "now you are how you were when you were real".

i also think that the song is about conor. he is saying 'you' but really referring to himself.

what do you all think?

ps. soooo excited to see him live!!

"I've seen the show, man, what a sight drenched us in approximated sunlight"

album version at least

amazing, amazing, amazing the whole album is

This is my favorite song off the new album, musically, but I'm really not sure what the lyrics mean. I mean, there is the sad story of the quinceanera ruined by violence. I like the juxtaposition between the opulence and the misery, like money can't buy happiness, or perhaps that extravagance can lead only to misery. The comparison between the "hollow you" and the "real you" is very interesting. Maybe that you were just a hollow shell until the incident, and then you had either your emotions again or your ability to think critically. I really don't know, I can't wait to see what others think about this song.

"All I do is follow you around" There actually is no "hollow you" part, according to official lyrics.

I'm a simpleton, so I'm probably wrong, but... I can't help but feel like this is the starkness of losing one's religion.

I used to dream of time machines Now it’s been said we’re post-everything As a child imagining Neck ties and Coast lines I seen the show man, what a sight Drenched us in approximated sunlight The crowd was small and mostly blind But kind, you’re too kind

Now you are how you were when you were real Now you are how you were when you were real

There you go again on that circular trip Lick the solar plexus of some L.A. shaman I’m out of breath I’d better sit Been living, hard living

All I do is follow you around

I wouldn’t waste another thought On what is fair and what is not The quinceañera dress she bought Was unstitched with bullets All the guests in the garden screamed Women and tires squealing Such opulence, such misery Unwinding, unwinding

All I do is follow you around All I do is follow you around

Now you are how you were when you were real

The starkness and tempo of this makes it sound like a update from Letting Off The Happiness.

Anyone have a read on what the woman (Corrina?) is saying in the background? 95% of the population is not into what?