I think it's meant to conjure up images about war (specifically Iraq). He's basically saying how there are all these bad things going on because of it but nobody cares. Instead they complain about mundane issues like how the radio sucks.
The first line is about impending doom (train going into the sea, black cloud). The buzz cut friends are presumably people in the military. But they might not be, since the "me" in the song seems to be at home. "No one on the corner had a quarter for the telephone." That is, none of the people overseas have a way of telling the people back home about what's really going on. I'm assuming the mother is dead in her "flowerbed." Her line is some sort of condolence for her kid.
Of course, the song might not be about the war or it might have a double meaning (which is probably most likely). A second meaning could be the way our society is now and where it is heading (i.e. doom). The "fathers in their army clothes" could be businessmen neglecting their children. The first stanza, then, could be about kids getting into trouble (dog, switchblade) and having no help (no quarter).
I think it's meant to conjure up images about war (specifically Iraq). He's basically saying how there are all these bad things going on because of it but nobody cares. Instead they complain about mundane issues like how the radio sucks.
The first line is about impending doom (train going into the sea, black cloud). The buzz cut friends are presumably people in the military. But they might not be, since the "me" in the song seems to be at home. "No one on the corner had a quarter for the telephone." That is, none of the people overseas have a way of telling the people back home about what's really going on. I'm assuming the mother is dead in her "flowerbed." Her line is some sort of condolence for her kid.
Of course, the song might not be about the war or it might have a double meaning (which is probably most likely). A second meaning could be the way our society is now and where it is heading (i.e. doom). The "fathers in their army clothes" could be businessmen neglecting their children. The first stanza, then, could be about kids getting into trouble (dog, switchblade) and having no help (no quarter).