I've always interpreted the song as Sage is frustrated because this is his passion and other people can't understand how much it means to him. The lines:
"Get in the bus, hop in the van
Jump in the water, crawl to the land
Build another castle out of the sand
Break it down and then I get into the saddle again
Gone city to city
I'm already lost to the boss
Who is new in town
I'ma ride this horse till it bucks me off
And I'm forced to shoot it down
I'ma take him out for some gasoline
I'ma trade this cow for some magic beans
Make mom proud of the deals that I've made
Cause I'm just a modern day Johnny Appleseed"
Could refer to relentless touring to support his dream and spread his message.
and the lines:
"Piano man got checkered dance floor
The grace and the painful look on his face
Cause the crowd is packed
And the louder they clapped
The less he is able to make the connection
Between what he sees when he hears certain notes
And the hurt that is shown in his facial expression"
I think means that he feels like his life and hardships have been reduced to a show
even the the title sea lion i think could mean that sometimes he feels like a trained seal, but it is all worth it because he is doing what he want to.
I've always interpreted the song as Sage is frustrated because this is his passion and other people can't understand how much it means to him. The lines: "Get in the bus, hop in the van Jump in the water, crawl to the land Build another castle out of the sand Break it down and then I get into the saddle again Gone city to city I'm already lost to the boss Who is new in town I'ma ride this horse till it bucks me off And I'm forced to shoot it down I'ma take him out for some gasoline I'ma trade this cow for some magic beans Make mom proud of the deals that I've made Cause I'm just a modern day Johnny Appleseed" Could refer to relentless touring to support his dream and spread his message. and the lines: "Piano man got checkered dance floor The grace and the painful look on his face Cause the crowd is packed And the louder they clapped The less he is able to make the connection Between what he sees when he hears certain notes And the hurt that is shown in his facial expression" I think means that he feels like his life and hardships have been reduced to a show even the the title sea lion i think could mean that sometimes he feels like a trained seal, but it is all worth it because he is doing what he want to.