This song is about western civilization, brought on by the agricultural revolution, which has evolved into over-commercialization. I didn't proof read any of my analysis, but it was pretty easy to figure out (especially having read Ishmael). I did each stanza at a time. Enjoy! (ps yes i love the song, and now that I know what it means, it is awesome).
-We are building a religion
-We are building it bigger
-We are widening the corrodors
-And adding more lanes
Our society... cities getting larger, highways getting thicker. Our 'story' is much like a religion, a tale of creation (see Ishmael).
-We are building a religion
-A limited edition
-We are now accepting callers
-for the pendant key chains
Limited edition- we are living in this world as if it's a one-shot deal
-To resist it is useless
-It is useless to resist it
-His cigarette is burning
-But he never seems to ash
You can't resist the progress of society.
Cigarette burning- natural resources
Keyword is 'seems'... it seems like we'll never run out.
Also, lung cancer is inevitable at this point :)
-He is grooming his poodle
-He is living comfort eagle
-You can meet at his location
-But you better come with cash
The grooming of the poodle implies an aristocratic cluelessness.
Comfort eagle is an allusion to american culture.
The cash is just general capitalism bashing.
-Now his hat is on backwards
-He can show you his tatoos
-He is in the music buisiness
-He is calling you "DUDE!"
Perhaps this is just alluding to how affable Mr Capitalistic Society is. Or it's jibberish. :)
-Now today is tomorrow
-And tomorrow today
-And yesterday is weaving in and out
Everything's the same, the past keeps repeating and we keep making the same mistakes.
-And the fluffy white lines
-That the airplane leaves behind
-Are drifting right in front
-of the waning of the moon
This one's probably wrong, but I'll go ahead and say pollution. We all look at it as "oh how cute, a byproduct of our society," but it's blocking out the moon (nature).
-He is handling the money
-He's serving the food
-He knows about your party
-He is calling you "DUDE!"
Handling the money and serving the food... basically the way our society is set up.
And once again, affable Mr Capitalistic Society.
-Now do you believe
-In the one big sign
-The doublewide shine
-On the boot-heels of your prime
I can't figure this one out. Are we licking the boot-heels of our 'prime' days and trying to replicate them so much that they double-wide shine? Yeah, I'll go with that.
-Doesn't matter if you're skinny
-Doesn't matter if you're fat
-You can dress up like a sultan
-In your onion-head hat
Society doesn't care what you are, so long as it can use you.
-We are building a religion
-We are making a brand
-We're the only ones to turn to
-When your castles turn to sand
More capitalism/commercialism mockery.
-Take a bite of this apple
-Mr. Corporate Events
-Take a walk through the jungle
-Of cardboard shanties and tents
Reference to Eden. See the book Ishmael by Danielle Quinn if you want a good explanation of exactly what this is talking about.
Basically, by biting the apple (rejecting the natural order of the world and controlling our own environment), we have traded one inhospitable jungle for another. This line is brilliant. Obviously, cardboard shanties and tents refers to homeless and poor.
-Some people drink Pepsi
-Some people drink Coke
-The wacky morning DJ
-Says democracy's a joke
This can be interpreted as "some people vote for candidate 1, some people vote for candidate 2" but the voting doesn't matter because both serve the same purpose and cause the same negative impacts. Many people can't even tell the difference between Pepsi and Coke, as many people can't tell the difference between Democrats and Republicans, or even more literally oligopolies or anything. This could merely express general apathy toward our society.
-He says, "Now do you believe
-In the one big song?"
-He's now accepting callers
-Who would like to sing along
More group-think mentality. If you believe in what society is doing, express it, live it up, and also get your 2 minutes of fame on the radio station.
-She says, "Do you believe
-In the one true edge,
-By fastening your safety belts
-And stepping towards the ledge?"
Now I'm almost certain this is referencing the book Ishmael. Go read it.
Essentially, by placing all of our society into one basket, we are all getting into a plane that we don't know will fly and jumping off the ledge.
-There's no need to ask directions
-If you ever lose your mind
-We're behind you
-We're behind you
-And let us please remind you
-We can send a car to find you
-If you ever lose your way
Allusion to group-think mentality. Society keeps marching on in the same direction and you're stuck going that way even if you're stupid/lost/whatever.
The "car to find you" probably refers to big brother.
-The doublewide shine
-On the boot-heels of your prime
-The doublewide shine
-On the boot-heels of your prime
refers to the dollar sign, which is also the "big sign". Think of the two stripes it has, usually in gold and shining. Maybe he is imagining this is the wealthy's boot heal print.
refers to the dollar sign, which is also the "big sign". Think of the two stripes it has, usually in gold and shining. Maybe he is imagining this is the wealthy's boot heal print.
This song is about western civilization, brought on by the agricultural revolution, which has evolved into over-commercialization. I didn't proof read any of my analysis, but it was pretty easy to figure out (especially having read Ishmael). I did each stanza at a time. Enjoy! (ps yes i love the song, and now that I know what it means, it is awesome). -We are building a religion -We are building it bigger -We are widening the corrodors -And adding more lanes
Our society... cities getting larger, highways getting thicker. Our 'story' is much like a religion, a tale of creation (see Ishmael).
-We are building a religion -A limited edition -We are now accepting callers -for the pendant key chains
Limited edition- we are living in this world as if it's a one-shot deal
-To resist it is useless -It is useless to resist it -His cigarette is burning -But he never seems to ash
You can't resist the progress of society. Cigarette burning- natural resources Keyword is 'seems'... it seems like we'll never run out. Also, lung cancer is inevitable at this point :)
-He is grooming his poodle -He is living comfort eagle -You can meet at his location -But you better come with cash
The grooming of the poodle implies an aristocratic cluelessness. Comfort eagle is an allusion to american culture. The cash is just general capitalism bashing.
-Now his hat is on backwards -He can show you his tatoos -He is in the music buisiness -He is calling you "DUDE!"
Perhaps this is just alluding to how affable Mr Capitalistic Society is. Or it's jibberish. :)
-Now today is tomorrow -And tomorrow today -And yesterday is weaving in and out
Everything's the same, the past keeps repeating and we keep making the same mistakes.
-And the fluffy white lines -That the airplane leaves behind -Are drifting right in front -of the waning of the moon
This one's probably wrong, but I'll go ahead and say pollution. We all look at it as "oh how cute, a byproduct of our society," but it's blocking out the moon (nature).
-He is handling the money -He's serving the food -He knows about your party -He is calling you "DUDE!"
Handling the money and serving the food... basically the way our society is set up. And once again, affable Mr Capitalistic Society.
-Now do you believe -In the one big sign -The doublewide shine -On the boot-heels of your prime
I can't figure this one out. Are we licking the boot-heels of our 'prime' days and trying to replicate them so much that they double-wide shine? Yeah, I'll go with that.
-Doesn't matter if you're skinny -Doesn't matter if you're fat -You can dress up like a sultan -In your onion-head hat
Society doesn't care what you are, so long as it can use you.
-We are building a religion -We are making a brand -We're the only ones to turn to -When your castles turn to sand
More capitalism/commercialism mockery.
-Take a bite of this apple -Mr. Corporate Events -Take a walk through the jungle -Of cardboard shanties and tents
Reference to Eden. See the book Ishmael by Danielle Quinn if you want a good explanation of exactly what this is talking about. Basically, by biting the apple (rejecting the natural order of the world and controlling our own environment), we have traded one inhospitable jungle for another. This line is brilliant. Obviously, cardboard shanties and tents refers to homeless and poor.
-Some people drink Pepsi -Some people drink Coke -The wacky morning DJ -Says democracy's a joke
This can be interpreted as "some people vote for candidate 1, some people vote for candidate 2" but the voting doesn't matter because both serve the same purpose and cause the same negative impacts. Many people can't even tell the difference between Pepsi and Coke, as many people can't tell the difference between Democrats and Republicans, or even more literally oligopolies or anything. This could merely express general apathy toward our society.
-He says, "Now do you believe -In the one big song?" -He's now accepting callers -Who would like to sing along
More group-think mentality. If you believe in what society is doing, express it, live it up, and also get your 2 minutes of fame on the radio station.
-She says, "Do you believe -In the one true edge, -By fastening your safety belts -And stepping towards the ledge?"
Now I'm almost certain this is referencing the book Ishmael. Go read it. Essentially, by placing all of our society into one basket, we are all getting into a plane that we don't know will fly and jumping off the ledge.
-There's no need to ask directions -If you ever lose your mind -We're behind you -We're behind you -And let us please remind you -We can send a car to find you -If you ever lose your way
Allusion to group-think mentality. Society keeps marching on in the same direction and you're stuck going that way even if you're stupid/lost/whatever. The "car to find you" probably refers to big brother.
[Edit: oXUi]
@xtravar I believe:
@xtravar I believe:
-The doublewide shine -On the boot-heels of your prime
-The doublewide shine -On the boot-heels of your prime
refers to the dollar sign, which is also the "big sign". Think of the two stripes it has, usually in gold and shining.
refers to the dollar sign, which is also the "big sign". Think of the two stripes it has, usually in gold and shining.
@xtravar I believe:
@xtravar I believe:
-The doublewide shine -On the boot-heels of your prime
-The doublewide shine -On the boot-heels of your prime
refers to the dollar sign, which is also the "big sign". Think of the two stripes it has, usually in gold and shining. Maybe he is imagining this is the wealthy's boot heal print.
refers to the dollar sign, which is also the "big sign". Think of the two stripes it has, usually in gold and shining. Maybe he is imagining this is the wealthy's boot heal print.