I think that above anything, this song follows the process of growing up and staying in the same place at the same time, and/or possibly the symbolism of a day passing. It starts out as a lulliby in the first verse, for all intensive purposes, without much symbolism. It's about a kid just "sitting on the stage" just dreaming of being an entertainer, representing the morning. Then it goes into the chorus which this time has little to no symbolism, but yet shows how being on a large stage can make you feel small, especially as a child.
Then it goes into the middle of the day where this person is now older, and performing, perhaps even very well, but still no one seems to notice or take interest. Heading back into the chorus, it shows how being in a big empty stadium with no one in it (metaphorical or literal) can also make you feel insignificant. This time, the line "This is a ride, not a fight" stands out saying perhaps something like "Stop fighting to try and get yourself to the top, just be yourself."
That takes us to the bridge, where the person in this story realizes that him or her trying to be the best whatever has changed him or her. It's like he or she is saying that they didn't get the name they wanted, but instead got labeled for wanting that name, if that makes sense. Also at the same time, they feel like trying so hard has taken away their original name, or what they were naturally good at, and no one remembers what they were good at, so it's lost in the sands of time.
Finally comes the last verse, which of course, represents death. In the end, the person looks to the night sky for whatever purpose, and quietly submits to death by being driven off in the car.
This is just my theory. It really is a beautiful song.
I think that above anything, this song follows the process of growing up and staying in the same place at the same time, and/or possibly the symbolism of a day passing. It starts out as a lulliby in the first verse, for all intensive purposes, without much symbolism. It's about a kid just "sitting on the stage" just dreaming of being an entertainer, representing the morning. Then it goes into the chorus which this time has little to no symbolism, but yet shows how being on a large stage can make you feel small, especially as a child. Then it goes into the middle of the day where this person is now older, and performing, perhaps even very well, but still no one seems to notice or take interest. Heading back into the chorus, it shows how being in a big empty stadium with no one in it (metaphorical or literal) can also make you feel insignificant. This time, the line "This is a ride, not a fight" stands out saying perhaps something like "Stop fighting to try and get yourself to the top, just be yourself." That takes us to the bridge, where the person in this story realizes that him or her trying to be the best whatever has changed him or her. It's like he or she is saying that they didn't get the name they wanted, but instead got labeled for wanting that name, if that makes sense. Also at the same time, they feel like trying so hard has taken away their original name, or what they were naturally good at, and no one remembers what they were good at, so it's lost in the sands of time. Finally comes the last verse, which of course, represents death. In the end, the person looks to the night sky for whatever purpose, and quietly submits to death by being driven off in the car.
This is just my theory. It really is a beautiful song.