I think this song is more than nonsensical. My opinion of course.
Jann's painting an image for the listener about a specific way of life in a specific place. She's then using that image to tell us that 'the world is bigger than me', showing us her self-realization that in this world, we are each insignificant.
That thought is also expressed when she talks about the child running from the elephant and she wishes she 'had the guts to save the day'.
The world (our existence, not the physical earth, but the way we live) being the child, the elephant representing what our population is doing to it, and her just another human being on the planet - feeling as though they themselves can do nothing.
People as a whole forget what the world has given them, and forget that they can give back to it. The world needs love.
I think the first verse is a comment on religion in this sense too. People don't know their own paths, and instead of looking inward to find who they are and what they can do they look to 'the preacher' for guidance. This line is meant as your religion or faith is brought forth from an exterior point, instead of from within.
Later on Jann expands on this thought to say that the preacher tells you to 'run like mad/leave everything you have and follow me'. Most organized religions demand that you follow certain codes or give up certain things. Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of faith?
On our own, we are each insignificant. We find small things to keep up those barriers between us - religion, race, social status, sexuality. But if we could only 'trust another human being on the planet', we could be more than what we are.
I think this song is more than nonsensical. My opinion of course.
Jann's painting an image for the listener about a specific way of life in a specific place. She's then using that image to tell us that 'the world is bigger than me', showing us her self-realization that in this world, we are each insignificant. That thought is also expressed when she talks about the child running from the elephant and she wishes she 'had the guts to save the day'. The world (our existence, not the physical earth, but the way we live) being the child, the elephant representing what our population is doing to it, and her just another human being on the planet - feeling as though they themselves can do nothing.
People as a whole forget what the world has given them, and forget that they can give back to it. The world needs love. I think the first verse is a comment on religion in this sense too. People don't know their own paths, and instead of looking inward to find who they are and what they can do they look to 'the preacher' for guidance. This line is meant as your religion or faith is brought forth from an exterior point, instead of from within. Later on Jann expands on this thought to say that the preacher tells you to 'run like mad/leave everything you have and follow me'. Most organized religions demand that you follow certain codes or give up certain things. Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of faith?
On our own, we are each insignificant. We find small things to keep up those barriers between us - religion, race, social status, sexuality. But if we could only 'trust another human being on the planet', we could be more than what we are.
That's what this song says to me.