I studied Paul Kelly's lyrics in English this year as well, and this song has always been my favorite since it was on 'Young Einstein' - 1988 movie by Yahoo Serious.
This is actually a very deep song about stereotypical frailties of men.
He basically starts off drunk, and is putting on a show making a fool of himself doing 'dumb things' and he 'should be lying low' for other dumb things he's done have consequences and they may come for him.
He 'see's the knives out (danger) and turns his back on it, then the knives are replaced by a bigger danger, now a train's coming and he still stays on the same track of doing the same dumb things.
In the middle of a dream represents his farfetched sense of reality at the time, its all a dream and he's gonna wake up without and consequences because he's wasted (drunk).
'i lost my shirt' represents to me that he lost his personal presentation and therefore lost his job because he lost his shirt he would've worn. I pawned my rings is the price he pays for his lifestyle, very simply.
The next verse is about him getting caught up into this alcoholism/gambling and thinking he was in love then when it doesnt work he 'hangs his heart on the moon' where its unreachable by others and like a lonley dog he 'starts howling' because nothing made and sense and his friends didnt support him, as they were probably all drunk too and knew he did the dumb things.
He now gets some good advice and it makes no difference and he stays out on the same track.
He them melts wax to fix his wings which i think is referring to the story of the man who wanted to fly, he used wax to hold his wings together so he could fly to the sun and they melted when he got too close and fell to his death. He follows the same pattern then when its all lost he 'throws his hat into the ring' to make money from fights.
This song is another instance of Kelly's sympathy for the ordinary person who gambles to improve his situation.
I studied Paul Kelly's lyrics in English this year as well, and this song has always been my favorite since it was on 'Young Einstein' - 1988 movie by Yahoo Serious. This is actually a very deep song about stereotypical frailties of men. He basically starts off drunk, and is putting on a show making a fool of himself doing 'dumb things' and he 'should be lying low' for other dumb things he's done have consequences and they may come for him. He 'see's the knives out (danger) and turns his back on it, then the knives are replaced by a bigger danger, now a train's coming and he still stays on the same track of doing the same dumb things. In the middle of a dream represents his farfetched sense of reality at the time, its all a dream and he's gonna wake up without and consequences because he's wasted (drunk). 'i lost my shirt' represents to me that he lost his personal presentation and therefore lost his job because he lost his shirt he would've worn. I pawned my rings is the price he pays for his lifestyle, very simply.
The next verse is about him getting caught up into this alcoholism/gambling and thinking he was in love then when it doesnt work he 'hangs his heart on the moon' where its unreachable by others and like a lonley dog he 'starts howling' because nothing made and sense and his friends didnt support him, as they were probably all drunk too and knew he did the dumb things.
He now gets some good advice and it makes no difference and he stays out on the same track. He them melts wax to fix his wings which i think is referring to the story of the man who wanted to fly, he used wax to hold his wings together so he could fly to the sun and they melted when he got too close and fell to his death. He follows the same pattern then when its all lost he 'throws his hat into the ring' to make money from fights.
This song is another instance of Kelly's sympathy for the ordinary person who gambles to improve his situation.