When I heard the song, I thought of it as a statement on America not being what it is meant to be. I think being in the valley, is symbolic of being in the lower class (valleys are low, and they are surrounded by mountains that are high and mighty). It was these people in the valleys/lower class that forged America. It was intended to be a place where people were free of persecution, where they wouldnt be judged by their religion, creed, etc. But many "dont remember what they came here for." These people are looking down at the people in the valleys, from their high and mighty mountains. They have "become what they hate." Though there is no 'right' way to live ("and noone knows"), they have no problem to "keep an eye on you", and tell you that your way is not 'right'. When they say "carry yourself well" they mean live the 'right' life. "The once home of the brave" has changed because the beliefs that America was built on have all scattered like the horses. Noone closing the barn door is symbollic of the way that this transition of Americans met no obstacles. Though America is not the great idea that it was meant to be, America is still alive. It's foundations are just broken.
When I heard the song, I thought of it as a statement on America not being what it is meant to be. I think being in the valley, is symbolic of being in the lower class (valleys are low, and they are surrounded by mountains that are high and mighty). It was these people in the valleys/lower class that forged America. It was intended to be a place where people were free of persecution, where they wouldnt be judged by their religion, creed, etc. But many "dont remember what they came here for." These people are looking down at the people in the valleys, from their high and mighty mountains. They have "become what they hate." Though there is no 'right' way to live ("and noone knows"), they have no problem to "keep an eye on you", and tell you that your way is not 'right'. When they say "carry yourself well" they mean live the 'right' life. "The once home of the brave" has changed because the beliefs that America was built on have all scattered like the horses. Noone closing the barn door is symbollic of the way that this transition of Americans met no obstacles. Though America is not the great idea that it was meant to be, America is still alive. It's foundations are just broken.