calendar girl -- I like your interpretation. Even though it's kindof long, I get what you're saying. I think especially the political side of it rings a bell with me. Even though I'm not political, I understand people's political views better than I do other things.
Alright, so this is coming out really awkward, and idk why. I'll try to catch my breath, and let you guys understand me.
Okay: Maybe the song is talking about all the ideas and innovations that this generation is bringing. Like, from the point of view of an older generation, being the "they", like calendar girl said. The adults of today are so wrapped up in saving the world, and "they" are saying that it'll all be for nothing, and it won't help. That all these dreams are "false fairytales". But the narrator is saying that they can burn in hell, and who cares what they say, and he is determined to keep dreaming.
The train could be the younger generation's innovations, and path to making the world better. So, in that sense:
"And we will crash and burn before our train leaves this town"
could be that "they" think that it won't work. This line is expressing that the ideas and path to a perfect world won't even get started. The train is a metaphor for this path, and if it doesn't even leave the town before they crash and burn, then it's saying that the younger generation will try so hard, but fail before it even gets better.
Also,
"And sleeping under bridges where our train breaks down"
could mean that if the path does start, it will eventually fail. Before the train can get to its destination, it will break down, the younger generation being left so poor from this that they sleep under bridges. This might mean that this generation will spend so much time and money concentrated on improving the world, that when their plans fail, we will all be left in ruins, worse off than we were when we started.
This song really expresses the ego and hope of the modern generation. They think that they can fix everything, but they can't. It's all false hope.
This is what the older generation, or "they", are saying, but the narrator thinks that they're wrong.
However, the only part that does not fit in perfectly is the three times he says "Love,..." and etc. In the first two times, it seems almost like he's realizing that the older generation is right, and apologizing for having so much hope. But in the last time, depending on what the "light" is, the meaning seems to be different. I take it two ways:
1) Our light will "flood", in a good way, like inspire and enlighten everyone. This would be the positive meaning of "drown".The light being hope and inspiration.
2) Our light will "kill", in a bad way. This would be the negative meaning of "drown", in the killing everyone sense. This might fit with my ideas for the other 2 lines, since it's saying that our hope will doom everyone.
Depending on which meaning of "drown" it is, the meaning of the chorus ("They can burn in hell") changes:
If it is the positive meaning -- "They can burn in hell" would have the normal meaning that you'd think of. It would be saying, "forget them", like they don't matter and who cares.
If it is the negative meaning -- "They can burn in hell" might mean the same thing, but instead of saying it because "they" are wrong, it would be because they're right, and "damnit, they're right!". More like a bitter emotion, and shameful.
The more I type, the more questions I have! I think I'm done, though, for now. (And I thought yours was long, calendar girl!!! lol.)
But yay! I finally somewhat-understand this song!
I've been wanting to a material meaning for it (meaning something besides just emotions, but something I can express in words) ever since I heard it, since it's so beautiful.
I'm so glad that it's not only beautiful, but meaningful.
calendar girl -- I like your interpretation. Even though it's kindof long, I get what you're saying. I think especially the political side of it rings a bell with me. Even though I'm not political, I understand people's political views better than I do other things.
Alright, so this is coming out really awkward, and idk why. I'll try to catch my breath, and let you guys understand me.
Okay: Maybe the song is talking about all the ideas and innovations that this generation is bringing. Like, from the point of view of an older generation, being the "they", like calendar girl said. The adults of today are so wrapped up in saving the world, and "they" are saying that it'll all be for nothing, and it won't help. That all these dreams are "false fairytales". But the narrator is saying that they can burn in hell, and who cares what they say, and he is determined to keep dreaming.
The train could be the younger generation's innovations, and path to making the world better. So, in that sense: "And we will crash and burn before our train leaves this town" could be that "they" think that it won't work. This line is expressing that the ideas and path to a perfect world won't even get started. The train is a metaphor for this path, and if it doesn't even leave the town before they crash and burn, then it's saying that the younger generation will try so hard, but fail before it even gets better.
Also, "And sleeping under bridges where our train breaks down" could mean that if the path does start, it will eventually fail. Before the train can get to its destination, it will break down, the younger generation being left so poor from this that they sleep under bridges. This might mean that this generation will spend so much time and money concentrated on improving the world, that when their plans fail, we will all be left in ruins, worse off than we were when we started.
This song really expresses the ego and hope of the modern generation. They think that they can fix everything, but they can't. It's all false hope.
This is what the older generation, or "they", are saying, but the narrator thinks that they're wrong.
However, the only part that does not fit in perfectly is the three times he says "Love,..." and etc. In the first two times, it seems almost like he's realizing that the older generation is right, and apologizing for having so much hope. But in the last time, depending on what the "light" is, the meaning seems to be different. I take it two ways: 1) Our light will "flood", in a good way, like inspire and enlighten everyone. This would be the positive meaning of "drown".The light being hope and inspiration. 2) Our light will "kill", in a bad way. This would be the negative meaning of "drown", in the killing everyone sense. This might fit with my ideas for the other 2 lines, since it's saying that our hope will doom everyone.
Depending on which meaning of "drown" it is, the meaning of the chorus ("They can burn in hell") changes: If it is the positive meaning -- "They can burn in hell" would have the normal meaning that you'd think of. It would be saying, "forget them", like they don't matter and who cares. If it is the negative meaning -- "They can burn in hell" might mean the same thing, but instead of saying it because "they" are wrong, it would be because they're right, and "damnit, they're right!". More like a bitter emotion, and shameful.
The more I type, the more questions I have! I think I'm done, though, for now. (And I thought yours was long, calendar girl!!! lol.)
But yay! I finally somewhat-understand this song!
I've been wanting to a material meaning for it (meaning something besides just emotions, but something I can express in words) ever since I heard it, since it's so beautiful.
I'm so glad that it's not only beautiful, but meaningful.
Peace! happy dance