For me the first verse talks about how some fans are dissapointed in him, while he is saying "the past is no place to rest your weary arms," meaning he couldn't have written the same style forever, and stop living in the "Tragically Hip" past and enjoy their new music too. "Your face a campaign-debt reflected sky," talking how the fans think he owes them something, and the next line goes on to state how he might be losing these fans.
The second verse is more of his opinion on it, again "the past is no place to...," then the following line possible talking about how he'll try to live up to their expectations. "Preoccupied, and with nothing to say, I'll sing it bright..." in my interpretation means that while he could possibly write songs like he used to, he kind of used that all up, and the newer songs might be a little hollow or meaningless, which is why he's "preoccupied."
The other verses speak to me of how's he's just like one of us, and he's "no threat." He's just trying to do his thing and have fun doing it while certain people put pressure on him. The line "If I'm not in the saddle, I'm nothing," is one of my favortie Hip quotes. It says that if he isn't doing what he loves, than he's not doing anything meaningful. It can be generalized to us to, so if we don't do what we lovethan there is no meaning in our lives.
I'm not sure if I understand the window-washer reference, maybe how window washer when cleaning sky-scrapers are always looking in on things from the outside? Seeing as an observer and never a participant, as if he sees the bands career from a third person's perspective. "An umakeable bed," and An "untuckable sky," possibly promises that can't be fufilled, or something that Gord couldn't do? He sees what people want him to do, but since he's moved on (I don't say mature, because that does no justice to either current or past Hip works) he knows he can't go back and do what's he's done, he's trapped on the outside, like a window washer.
All just some thoughts on the song, nothing other than opinion.
I agree with Daryl completely.
For me the first verse talks about how some fans are dissapointed in him, while he is saying "the past is no place to rest your weary arms," meaning he couldn't have written the same style forever, and stop living in the "Tragically Hip" past and enjoy their new music too. "Your face a campaign-debt reflected sky," talking how the fans think he owes them something, and the next line goes on to state how he might be losing these fans.
The second verse is more of his opinion on it, again "the past is no place to...," then the following line possible talking about how he'll try to live up to their expectations. "Preoccupied, and with nothing to say, I'll sing it bright..." in my interpretation means that while he could possibly write songs like he used to, he kind of used that all up, and the newer songs might be a little hollow or meaningless, which is why he's "preoccupied."
The other verses speak to me of how's he's just like one of us, and he's "no threat." He's just trying to do his thing and have fun doing it while certain people put pressure on him. The line "If I'm not in the saddle, I'm nothing," is one of my favortie Hip quotes. It says that if he isn't doing what he loves, than he's not doing anything meaningful. It can be generalized to us to, so if we don't do what we lovethan there is no meaning in our lives.
I'm not sure if I understand the window-washer reference, maybe how window washer when cleaning sky-scrapers are always looking in on things from the outside? Seeing as an observer and never a participant, as if he sees the bands career from a third person's perspective. "An umakeable bed," and An "untuckable sky," possibly promises that can't be fufilled, or something that Gord couldn't do? He sees what people want him to do, but since he's moved on (I don't say mature, because that does no justice to either current or past Hip works) he knows he can't go back and do what's he's done, he's trapped on the outside, like a window washer.
All just some thoughts on the song, nothing other than opinion.