I've always kind of assumed this song follows the same rough theme as most of the songs on the album (and as the cover art depicts) - in terms of the decline of the record industry and product over art. "Sound Of Muzak" covers the avaricious businessman element; "Four Chords that Made A Million" approaches the manufactured rock band and the way the glamour is sold over the music; "Hatesong", sung with such contempt, attacks the repetitive unoriginality of those typical love songs; "Piano Lessons" is a kind of satire on the whole thing. This song, I think, expresses a feeling of futility felt by avante-garde musicians - knowing that they have the ability to make more money and have an easier life by giving in and producing more 'typical' records. So "Stop swimming" would be a reference to giving up on experimental and progressive music. And as I say I've always kind of felt it captures the feeling you get when you realise how you're barely making an influence on that banal, money-hungry business, seeing the corruption of 'art'. That said, I like the above interpretations just as much. I just happen to be very pretentious when it comes to things like art...
I've always kind of assumed this song follows the same rough theme as most of the songs on the album (and as the cover art depicts) - in terms of the decline of the record industry and product over art. "Sound Of Muzak" covers the avaricious businessman element; "Four Chords that Made A Million" approaches the manufactured rock band and the way the glamour is sold over the music; "Hatesong", sung with such contempt, attacks the repetitive unoriginality of those typical love songs; "Piano Lessons" is a kind of satire on the whole thing. This song, I think, expresses a feeling of futility felt by avante-garde musicians - knowing that they have the ability to make more money and have an easier life by giving in and producing more 'typical' records. So "Stop swimming" would be a reference to giving up on experimental and progressive music. And as I say I've always kind of felt it captures the feeling you get when you realise how you're barely making an influence on that banal, money-hungry business, seeing the corruption of 'art'. That said, I like the above interpretations just as much. I just happen to be very pretentious when it comes to things like art...
I think your interpretation is "spot on" ;)
I think your interpretation is "spot on" ;)