This song definitely is talking about respect for women in the music industry specifically, and other industries broadly.
"Climb the wall to make the sun rise in time But the night had already begun" is talking about our predecessors putting in lots of work to make things change, but the way music has evolved its like we are back in the dark ages where women are only seen as sex objects (think every single rap video, or britney spears)
"Now here I am, I am the one." "So hang high soft star" - now its her turn to try and do something. She wants to be above the influence, and be able to be honest in her lyrics without being completely trashy (which i think metric does extremely well!) The swine are people (esp. men) who would only listen to her music if shes nearly naked, or people who dont take lyrics and talent seriously.
"Where is my guide" - shes having a hard time figuring out to how work things out and be successful because everyone whos come before her has given into peer pressure.
"I tried lookin' up to you girls. Please correct me, but didn't you let the work slide?" - talking again to the girls who sold out. They didnt do a very good job setting the stage for more female musicians.
"Capitalize on a novelty, cheap pink spotlight" - could be anything that some female "musicians" use to get attention that doesnt have anything to do with talent or the message of the music.
"Choose the highest bidder was my answer
When they told me I was up for sale" - basically her manager or whoever tells her that sex sells, and part of her wants to just give in and say "ok, whatever makes the most money is what ill do"
The bullies (music industry people who think they can buy and sell girls based on their sex appeal) "Have always tried to buy the better girls.... But failed this time" - it may have been that way in the past but they failed to buy her b/c shes standing up for herself/her music.
I can also see the chorus being interpreted as her giving in to the industry because theyve mailed a check to her (she has been bought), but that wouldnt seem to match with other metric themes, or the verses. who knows?
This song definitely is talking about respect for women in the music industry specifically, and other industries broadly. "Climb the wall to make the sun rise in time But the night had already begun" is talking about our predecessors putting in lots of work to make things change, but the way music has evolved its like we are back in the dark ages where women are only seen as sex objects (think every single rap video, or britney spears) "Now here I am, I am the one." "So hang high soft star" - now its her turn to try and do something. She wants to be above the influence, and be able to be honest in her lyrics without being completely trashy (which i think metric does extremely well!) The swine are people (esp. men) who would only listen to her music if shes nearly naked, or people who dont take lyrics and talent seriously.
"Where is my guide" - shes having a hard time figuring out to how work things out and be successful because everyone whos come before her has given into peer pressure.
"I tried lookin' up to you girls. Please correct me, but didn't you let the work slide?" - talking again to the girls who sold out. They didnt do a very good job setting the stage for more female musicians.
"Capitalize on a novelty, cheap pink spotlight" - could be anything that some female "musicians" use to get attention that doesnt have anything to do with talent or the message of the music.
"Choose the highest bidder was my answer When they told me I was up for sale" - basically her manager or whoever tells her that sex sells, and part of her wants to just give in and say "ok, whatever makes the most money is what ill do" The bullies (music industry people who think they can buy and sell girls based on their sex appeal) "Have always tried to buy the better girls.... But failed this time" - it may have been that way in the past but they failed to buy her b/c shes standing up for herself/her music.
I can also see the chorus being interpreted as her giving in to the industry because theyve mailed a check to her (she has been bought), but that wouldnt seem to match with other metric themes, or the verses. who knows?