La La La

I found this comment from youtube which describes what the song is based on:

The story is about an old Bolivian folk legend called El Tio, about a deaf child who escaped his abusive home and found a stray dog to keep him company. He had the power to heal people with his voice, and he found a man that was being stoned by the villagers. He sung to the man, and healed his heart. Afterwards, he found a man that was "different" and shunned by society. He sung to this person as well, and healed his spirit and mind. They went to a mine near the village, where a demon resided. The demon could control anyone who heard his voice and had put the village under his influence. While the dog and 2 men could not enter the cave, the boy was deaf and could not hear the demon. So he stayed behind and used his voice to be louder than the demon and overcame him, keeping the village safe. He had to stay there forever to sing to the demon and keep him away.

when i listen to this song, i think about my sister.. i really love her and we have a good relationship, but when she is angry, she just starts screaming at me, and some of the things she says don't even make sense, like she became a completly different person.. so i can relate to the part '' when your words mean nothing i go la la la'' her words really hurt me, but i know she doesn't mean everything she says in those moments.. my heart can't stop it, meaning i can't just go over it so easily, but i find a way to block it and not listen to her until she calms down

I've been looking up song meanings for this song and so far I've found some very simplistic ones that state the obvious (the singer refuses to listen to someone) and some that claim the song is satanic or anti-religious. I can see that, I guess, but I think there's more to it. I'll be ignoring the music video for this, by the way, so no need to tell me it's a Wizard of Oz inspired story blah blah blah.

Let's break it down:

Hush, don't speak When you spit your venom, keep it shut I hate it When you hiss and preach About your new messiah 'cause your theories catch fire

Well, obviously the singer is having issues with what someone is saying. The first few lines just sound bitter and hurt about whatever they're talking about. The last line here interests me most - the singer hates it when they talk about a new messiah because their theories (not the messiah's, but probably about the messiah) get peoples'/ the singer's attention. Personally, I think what's going on here is that the singer was the 'old' messiah, the one who used to save this person, but now this person has moved onto something else and is talking about it in a way that makes it seem better.

I can't find your silver lining I don't mean to judge But when you read your speech, it's tiring Enough is enough

So...can the singer not find the 'silver lining' around this person, or the silver lining this person has found? I think it's the latter - he can't see what's so good about this new thing, and he's sick of hearing about it.

I'm covering my ears like a kid When your words mean nothing, I go la la la I'm turning up the volume when you speak 'Cause if my heart can't stop it, I find a way to block it, I go

Some people theorize that the singer is being tempted here, but I don't think that's the case (given the 'silver lining' line and 'though your words mean nothing'). I think that the singer deeply cares for this person and listening to them talk about this newer, better thing (that he's not involved with - 'your words mean nothing (to me)') hurts him a lot. It's right up there with hearing your ex talk about how his/her new partner is so much better - you can't make that not hurt, so you just block it out instead.

Last unique verse: If our love is running out of time I won't count the hours, rather be a coward When our worlds collide I'm gonna drown you out before I lose my mind

Whatever this 'new messiah' is, it's causing a rift between them. The singer doesn't want to think about it, so every time they meet he tries to block it out.

I think that, at its heart, this song is about jealousy. The singer is jealous that this person has found something better/more interesting than him and the way he's coping with it is by sticking his fingers in his ears and going 'la la la'

I can certainly see this being interpreted as 'the person found religion', but I can also see things like "My friend made a much better friend and talks about him/her all the time" and "My sibling got a partner and they won't stop talking about him/her" as well, if you believe that 'love' can extend to non-romantic relations. In terms of romantic relations, I don't think they're talking about another person - whatever is taking up their partner's attention, it's a thing (a cool new job? a new game? yoga class? whatever it is, this person is paying it way more attention than they are to the singer).

Sorry, It's better to be no comments on this page because He wouldn't Listen as he says "I'm covering my ears like a kid When your words mean nothing, I go la la la" But I just want to say I love this song and "I don't mean to judge" !

I'm thinking is that it's about people teasing someone. That person just wants to ignore people.

Meh, i think we all have known that one person who finds some new religion, hobbie, whatever, and jus wont shut the f#@k up about it! Its annoying as hell if youre not into the same stuff they talkin bout.

The way I see it, the singer is singing about someone who he loves, maybe a sibling or a partener. But this person - we'll call it she - has some sort of mental problem. Sometimes she gets angry and yells and is almost abusive. The singer loves her and doesn't want to give up on her but he knows this isn't going to work.

it's basically about forcing religion on someone

Apart from the line about love running out of time, this could well be about the current President/moron of the USA.

I think the song is about the persons partner being negative and/or radical about their beliefs. I think the person he is talking to is hateful and thinks others should believe what they believe and do what they do and the person speaking is just so tired of all the hate that their loved one is spewing forth. It could also potentially be about verbal abuse of course. His heart is hurting from what is happening and he can't stop it so instead he is trying to ignore whats being said. I think when he says he "won't count the hours rather be a coward" means hes not going to face facts and realize he has to put a stop to the unhealthy situation, instead he is going to run away from the problem by blocking it out.