Being Exemplary Lyrics
Its about being a good example for your kids.
i feel like this song is about crappy parents who have kids and neglect or treat them badly, and are "such sorry examples," hence "being exemplary"
regardless, great song
It's about humanity discarding Platonic and Aristotelien methods of education -or- the ability to utilize emotional and reasoning skills, learning how to question, so as to achieve true independence of thought. And, on another hand- our lack of ability to use this reasoning to develop laws, rules, and govern morally. Thus, providing our youth with no guidelines...sending them down "the random path of chance". It's about our neglect of the youth, and our inability to instill these qualities in them.
"Diamonds in the palms of fools" as in Ignorance breeds nothing other than itself.
I think more specifically this is about being a good example to children and the generations after you. If you live purposefully, pass that on as the "precept" to live by. \n\nOr neglect them and allow the next generation to lead aimless, unguided and rudderless lives. \n\nYou don\'t need to do this by any ridiculously virtuous method; looking both ways before you cross the road when you don\'t necessarily need to when a kid might be watching, things like that contribute in some small way even.