I think this song is partially about justice, and the lack thereof. The verse about "Those who can't quite function/In society at large" gaining power and those "Who are really doing quite well" losing all power reminds me of the Bible verse where Jesus says that the first shall be last, and the last first. But it isn't like that at all; the meek never inherit the earth and the rich never fall to ruin. Bird, in this song, is expressing disappointment and frustration that nothing ever changes, that opposite day never comes.
The very last verse makes me wonder though. I think it implies hope? That there is justice, we just have to work for it. Or it could mean just the opposite - people refuse to acknowledge the injustice, and so it remains in the world, unchallenged. One thing about it that I think I can safely say is that, per my interpretation, it's a different voice than the narrator of the rest of the song. I get this mainly through the change in tempo and melody, which the lyrics here don't reflect, but those who know the song know what I'm talking about! So it's someone different singing that verse. Who it is or what that means, I don't know.
I think that's Bird himself, breaking the fourth wall. If you can break a fourth wall in song, since there aren't any walls - anyway, stepping out of character to say something Mysterious, in a teasing way. "I just work here" is so funny.
I think that's Bird himself, breaking the fourth wall. If you can break a fourth wall in song, since there aren't any walls - anyway, stepping out of character to say something Mysterious, in a teasing way. "I just work here" is so funny.
I think this song is partially about justice, and the lack thereof. The verse about "Those who can't quite function/In society at large" gaining power and those "Who are really doing quite well" losing all power reminds me of the Bible verse where Jesus says that the first shall be last, and the last first. But it isn't like that at all; the meek never inherit the earth and the rich never fall to ruin. Bird, in this song, is expressing disappointment and frustration that nothing ever changes, that opposite day never comes.
The very last verse makes me wonder though. I think it implies hope? That there is justice, we just have to work for it. Or it could mean just the opposite - people refuse to acknowledge the injustice, and so it remains in the world, unchallenged. One thing about it that I think I can safely say is that, per my interpretation, it's a different voice than the narrator of the rest of the song. I get this mainly through the change in tempo and melody, which the lyrics here don't reflect, but those who know the song know what I'm talking about! So it's someone different singing that verse. Who it is or what that means, I don't know.
I think that's Bird himself, breaking the fourth wall. If you can break a fourth wall in song, since there aren't any walls - anyway, stepping out of character to say something Mysterious, in a teasing way. "I just work here" is so funny.
I think that's Bird himself, breaking the fourth wall. If you can break a fourth wall in song, since there aren't any walls - anyway, stepping out of character to say something Mysterious, in a teasing way. "I just work here" is so funny.