I think it's about a life passing by. In the first verse the youth revolution that every generation is expected to have never occurs and the singer doesn't realize it until a friend points it out to him. The singer has let his youth pass him by, hence "no longer a child"
I think the second verse encompasses relationships, both the formation and destruction thereof. To me, he's talking to an exgirlfriend who has found somebody else ("imply the other guy")
"A clean shave in the morning/ A full beard with no warning" means that he's getting older. He no longer has the childlike face of youth, and time has gotten the best of him without him realizing it.
The last two verses deal with success at work, but no joy in it. Adopting another lifestyle again is indicative of aging- most people change lifestyles throughout their lives, otherwise we'd have way more old hippies running around. Finally, I think the fire is dealing with the beginning and end of each stage of life (childhood, yound adulthood, middle age, etc.) and the singer's moving into the next phase of his life.
That's just my take on it, could be way off
I think it's about a life passing by. In the first verse the youth revolution that every generation is expected to have never occurs and the singer doesn't realize it until a friend points it out to him. The singer has let his youth pass him by, hence "no longer a child" I think the second verse encompasses relationships, both the formation and destruction thereof. To me, he's talking to an exgirlfriend who has found somebody else ("imply the other guy") "A clean shave in the morning/ A full beard with no warning" means that he's getting older. He no longer has the childlike face of youth, and time has gotten the best of him without him realizing it. The last two verses deal with success at work, but no joy in it. Adopting another lifestyle again is indicative of aging- most people change lifestyles throughout their lives, otherwise we'd have way more old hippies running around. Finally, I think the fire is dealing with the beginning and end of each stage of life (childhood, yound adulthood, middle age, etc.) and the singer's moving into the next phase of his life. That's just my take on it, could be way off