Alright, first off it must be said that this song is the definition of "the shit." I looked it up.
Now for my take on it, I would have to agree with most above that its a song about the self-induced murder of your youth by joining the "real world."
The first part just screams young employee/intern. Running around doing all the bitch work. The picture part makes me think of how people arent admittedly proud of themselves for joining the business world and working for "the man" but don't mind being recognized by the higher ups in pictures or portraits (as long as its in the back and subtle.) All showered up and blazered (which may point out a change from college life and youth which is customly just before a business job) starting out getting paid starter pay or "quarters." The whole part is just about a person starting out and not necessarily happy to be working for the man but at the same time anxious to succeed.
The second verse has the most ambiguity. The heart of heart sleeve of sleeve part i think refers to opinions and feeling like previous have said. Like wearing your "emotions on your sleeve," you believe what you do in your heart and then display your stance on your sleeve. The fact that Berninger adds "MAKE UP something to beleive" sound like our main character is a suck-up brown-noser trying to get ahead with the heads. Think the way they do and they'll respect you for it, have your own opinion and you'll suffer for it. That may lead into the feathery woman (most likely an angel) leading the blindfolded man (most likely an older employee whos been fired for our protagonists promotion) into the trees. The 2nd part shows how our main character is moving up in his new world, but for a price.
The chorus is awesome. As this person focuses more time on their new career and monetary success (citibank - banks are perfect examples of white collar successful/respectable jobs) they begin to loose touch with their past and friends who are still walking the night streets arm and arm with glazing eyes from being out drinking and having fun. The person is ashamed which is why he wouldn't want an angel watching over, but Berninger points out that angels have no interest in watching him/her walk down the same dull, trite path that so many nameless businessmen walk.
Its an uninnocent fall because our leading figure has brought it upon himself. I hope its never me.
Alright, first off it must be said that this song is the definition of "the shit." I looked it up.
Now for my take on it, I would have to agree with most above that its a song about the self-induced murder of your youth by joining the "real world."
The first part just screams young employee/intern. Running around doing all the bitch work. The picture part makes me think of how people arent admittedly proud of themselves for joining the business world and working for "the man" but don't mind being recognized by the higher ups in pictures or portraits (as long as its in the back and subtle.) All showered up and blazered (which may point out a change from college life and youth which is customly just before a business job) starting out getting paid starter pay or "quarters." The whole part is just about a person starting out and not necessarily happy to be working for the man but at the same time anxious to succeed.
The second verse has the most ambiguity. The heart of heart sleeve of sleeve part i think refers to opinions and feeling like previous have said. Like wearing your "emotions on your sleeve," you believe what you do in your heart and then display your stance on your sleeve. The fact that Berninger adds "MAKE UP something to beleive" sound like our main character is a suck-up brown-noser trying to get ahead with the heads. Think the way they do and they'll respect you for it, have your own opinion and you'll suffer for it. That may lead into the feathery woman (most likely an angel) leading the blindfolded man (most likely an older employee whos been fired for our protagonists promotion) into the trees. The 2nd part shows how our main character is moving up in his new world, but for a price.
The chorus is awesome. As this person focuses more time on their new career and monetary success (citibank - banks are perfect examples of white collar successful/respectable jobs) they begin to loose touch with their past and friends who are still walking the night streets arm and arm with glazing eyes from being out drinking and having fun. The person is ashamed which is why he wouldn't want an angel watching over, but Berninger points out that angels have no interest in watching him/her walk down the same dull, trite path that so many nameless businessmen walk.
Its an uninnocent fall because our leading figure has brought it upon himself. I hope its never me.