this is referring to the industrial nature of society, and the fact that this aspect of society is meaningless if you place all your belief within it.
"You can turn the city upside down if you want to but it won't keep you dry." -> I think this is referring to a belief that although the industrial nature of society is not without fault, it is pointless to completely revolutionize society... I think this is true, for human nature will always be at fault. Therefore even if you were to turn the city upside down (entirely change it) it would not keep you dry (remove all the problems found within society).
...
But I think songs may have multiple meanings, going along with the trend of this being a song about loneliness, I can see several aspects.
"You can turn the city upside down, like an umbrella but it won't keep you dry." -> maybe a parallel to the old saying "turn that frown upside down"... even if you do, your true feelings will remain...">
Umbrella Meanings & Lyrics Discussion by phosphorus | SongMeanings
this is referring to the industrial nature of society, and the fact that this aspect of society is meaningless if you place all your belief within it.
"You can turn the city upside down if you want to but it won't keep you dry." -> I think this is referring to a belief that although the industrial nature of society is not without fault, it is pointless to completely revolutionize society... I think this is true, for human nature will always be at fault. Therefore even if you were to turn the city upside down (entirely change it) it would not keep you dry (remove all the problems found within society).
...
But I think songs may have multiple meanings, going along with the trend of this being a song about loneliness, I can see several aspects.
"You can turn the city upside down, like an umbrella but it won't keep you dry." -> maybe a parallel to the old saying "turn that frown upside down"... even if you do, your true feelings will remain..." />
I could be wrong, because I didn't hear this directly from the source...
I heard the song is about society, the characteristics of society, and the implications of changing society.
"When you wrap yourself in a highway strip, don't expect any warmth from it." -> this is referring to the industrial nature of society, and the fact that this aspect of society is meaningless if you place all your belief within it.
"You can turn the city upside down if you want to but it won't keep you dry." -> I think this is referring to a belief that although the industrial nature of society is not without fault, it is pointless to completely revolutionize society... I think this is true, for human nature will always be at fault. Therefore even if you were to turn the city upside down (entirely change it) it would not keep you dry (remove all the problems found within society).
...
But I think songs may have multiple meanings, going along with the trend of this being a song about loneliness, I can see several aspects.
"You can turn the city upside down, like an umbrella but it won't keep you dry." -> maybe a parallel to the old saying "turn that frown upside down"... even if you do, your true feelings will remain...
I could be wrong, because I didn't hear this directly from the source... I heard the song is about society, the characteristics of society, and the implications of changing society.
"When you wrap yourself in a highway strip, don't expect any warmth from it." -> this is referring to the industrial nature of society, and the fact that this aspect of society is meaningless if you place all your belief within it. "You can turn the city upside down if you want to but it won't keep you dry." -> I think this is referring to a belief that although the industrial nature of society is not without fault, it is pointless to completely revolutionize society... I think this is true, for human nature will always be at fault. Therefore even if you were to turn the city upside down (entirely change it) it would not keep you dry (remove all the problems found within society). ... But I think songs may have multiple meanings, going along with the trend of this being a song about loneliness, I can see several aspects.
"You can turn the city upside down, like an umbrella but it won't keep you dry." -> maybe a parallel to the old saying "turn that frown upside down"... even if you do, your true feelings will remain...