This seems to me like the Shins' most overtly political song.
And yet, it seems almost... anti-political. Allow me to explain...
The opening line "Your silver tongue laughs at the clowns of our age" seems to refer to an above-the-influence sort of fiction deity that sees through the propaganda of modern politics (the baised politicians being the "clowns"). These are the same "devils" spoken of later in the song.
The youth of today tend to believe whatever they're told, and so have "open shutters," and are taken by any "slide of hand" that is attempted toward them. They "give way to another": The dominoe effect.
Oh yes, and one last point... "production line of cheap-shots on both sides" obviously refers to the political animosity and slander coming from political parties.
Basically... every line in this song has a not-too-subtle reference to today's politics.
This seems to me like the Shins' most overtly political song.
And yet, it seems almost... anti-political. Allow me to explain...
The opening line "Your silver tongue laughs at the clowns of our age" seems to refer to an above-the-influence sort of fiction deity that sees through the propaganda of modern politics (the baised politicians being the "clowns"). These are the same "devils" spoken of later in the song.
The youth of today tend to believe whatever they're told, and so have "open shutters," and are taken by any "slide of hand" that is attempted toward them. They "give way to another": The dominoe effect.
Oh yes, and one last point... "production line of cheap-shots on both sides" obviously refers to the political animosity and slander coming from political parties.
Basically... every line in this song has a not-too-subtle reference to today's politics.
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