I'd have to agree with Andrewonfire with this one. This song almost seems like a response or a follow-up to Karma Police; "I've given all I can, but we're still on the payroll" ties in with "I'm a reasonable man, get off my case."
It sounds like someone has spent years trying to do the right thing, put other people before themselves, etc. but in the end he's left wondering what it was all for. Likely he feels like he's been taken advantage of. However, perhaps his priorities were messed up - putting work life before family life despite his best intentions, for example - or maybe the fact that he's wondering where his reward is reveals his underlying selfishness. Either of these could explain the line "And you realize you're looking in the wrong place."
I'd have to agree with Andrewonfire with this one. This song almost seems like a response or a follow-up to Karma Police; "I've given all I can, but we're still on the payroll" ties in with "I'm a reasonable man, get off my case."
It sounds like someone has spent years trying to do the right thing, put other people before themselves, etc. but in the end he's left wondering what it was all for. Likely he feels like he's been taken advantage of. However, perhaps his priorities were messed up - putting work life before family life despite his best intentions, for example - or maybe the fact that he's wondering where his reward is reveals his underlying selfishness. Either of these could explain the line "And you realize you're looking in the wrong place."