Broken Mirrors

the verses are a warning of the imminent danger of societal collapse or overthrow; the kind that historically go unheeded until it's far too late (whoever he's responding to just considers him that old town cryer). this is what happens to every great society in history, i.e. "rome was destroyed, spain was destroyed..." but he also mentions in the chorus that though what we (humanity, specifically capitalist america) have become is an unfamiliar face, it isn't yet too late, and we can shatter this reflection of what we hate if conscious enough.

I doubt this is the actual meaning, but I think a lot of the song sounds like it's about the hatred and intolerance that so many parents in the world pass on to their kids.

Rise Against isn't as Anarchist as everyone seems to single them out to be. True they call for societal change and often criticize the American government, but many songs are more about people themselves, rather than the force which governs them.

This song, for example isn't about a revolution. It's about a man, late in his life, who is going through a mid-life crisis. For years, he's ignored what's going on around him as his "luck" or rather his youthful passion "ran out". With all the things that he simply lets happen, he can't even look at himself in the mirror anymore because he can't recognize the fight-for-nothing man he's become, and can't cope with the fact that he's going to die like that when he can still see reflections of the person he was before or wanted to be.

The narrator states that the mirrors, despite showing you what you look like, they can't see "our hearts", meaning that reflecting on your past may reflect who you were, but that doesn't have to be who you ARE right now. You are free to change yourself and restart whenever you choose, and you don't have to let your past define you.

does anyone else think that in the lines "it's been years since our luck ran out and left us here like broken mirrors ten million shards of glass and tears" that there is a reference to the crystalnacht incident in germany during WW II?

I can swear I hear a telephone ringing at 1:14 behind the guitar. Does anyone else hear this??

I so heard it to wonder if they ment it to be heard

frozenhobo basically said what I think :)

The "phone ringing" at 1:14 is actually the resonance from the cymbals, sorry guys.

More analysis necessary: OK! This song shows that we want to be someone else, but cant. Everyone thinks that they are a hero, and that they are doing the right things, but when they realize they aren't they see an "unfamiliar face".