The Starting Line Lyrics
I feel like this song is about a man in love with a woman who is facing adversity of some kind. She's obviously very stressed out about it, and it's taking a toll in their relationship. She's got emotional baggage and he's totally understanding about it. He wants her to know that no matter what she goes through, he'll be there for her. He's trying to cheer her up, say that he knows she's got it bad, but she has him and it'll all be alright in the end.
On a seperate note, I absolutely love this song. It's sweet and a real pick-me-up.
I don't think this song is strictly about love and relationships.
The first verse sets some context:
This town was a lovers stage But now you can't recognize The streetlights that are daggers to your eyes You can't find your bearings You're slipping into the ground The scene has no color and no sound
So, something happened around the narrator and someone he is talking to. Could be anything. A critic of society, etc. But somehow they were affected by it. It affected them to the point that there is something the narrator did in the past not so good:
You still believe in me After the things, I've done You fear for what we have become
The rest of the lyrics are full of motivation lines and encouragement despite all the suffering. This is evident on the line:
Drag your heart up to the starting line
Drag doesn't seem to me like a random verb. It's a strong verb to be unintentionally.
Drag your heart up to the starting line Forget the ghosts that make you old before your time It's too easy to get left behind I know you've been kicked around You wanna be lost and not be found But let's take the back way into town Drink to the bad times Lay them down on me Girl, I still believe in you You're too good to fall so low We're gonna find a better life I know Things will be clearer As soon as we make a start We'll be that much nearer We're too old to just stand here waiting to break apart Drag your heart up to the starting line Forget the ghosts that make you old before your time It's too easy to get left behind I know you've been kicked around But tie up your thoughts and lay them down on me On me, on me
This is actually one of the band's best songs. One of the scenarios were I can easily see these words is from a father/mother to his sun/daughter.