After I saw the video and read the lyrics I think I figured out what this song is about. In a nut shell, as put in a previous post, it’s about the despoiling of the planet. Perhaps, more specifically about pollution through the burning of fossil fuels. This is the result of what began in Europe, industrialization and capitalistic expansion. European's western expansion ends on the west coast of the U.S., manifested in gas guzzling cars and endless highways, the final frontier, perhaps the final stand of European culture, and maybe the final stand of humanity.
Evidence from the videos:
Both videos depict a car being driven around. In the original video shots of palm trees, California oil wells, power plants and various other industrial structures are included.
Evidence from the song:
"In the western sky" - European expansion doesn't go much farther west than California.
"So dark all over Europe" - The remnants of where the process began.
"And I ride down the highway 101. By the side of the ocean headed for sunset." - After much research this must literally mean U.S. Highway 101. It is the westernmost in the U.S. highway system, stretching from Los Angeles to Olympia, WA. The highway passes through San Francisco, over the Golden Gate Bridge and is within eyesight of the pacific ocean for many portions of its length.
“Headed for sunset. For the kingdom come” — It’s possible that this is a reference to Sunset Blvd, but I find that unlikely. The sun sets in the west. Add in the kingdom come and choose your allegory: the end of the world, the end of humanity, the end of western civilization. In other words, the sun sets on us and we’re off to heaven.
“Black planet hanging over the highway. Out of my mind's eye. Out of the memory. Black world out of my mind.” — We continue towards this scenario through our actions and continue to ignore the consequences.
“So dark all over Europe. And the rainbow rises here. In the western sky.” — This indicates it’s dark already in Europe, and thus "here" is somewhere else other than Europe, i.e. California.
“At the end of the great white pier.” — California, maybe even Los Angeles is the end of the pier. The final western stretch of white European economic and cultural expansion. The “white pier” that stretches from the beaches of Europe to California.
After I saw the video and read the lyrics I think I figured out what this song is about. In a nut shell, as put in a previous post, it’s about the despoiling of the planet. Perhaps, more specifically about pollution through the burning of fossil fuels. This is the result of what began in Europe, industrialization and capitalistic expansion. European's western expansion ends on the west coast of the U.S., manifested in gas guzzling cars and endless highways, the final frontier, perhaps the final stand of European culture, and maybe the final stand of humanity.
Evidence from the videos: Both videos depict a car being driven around. In the original video shots of palm trees, California oil wells, power plants and various other industrial structures are included.
Evidence from the song: "In the western sky" - European expansion doesn't go much farther west than California.
"So dark all over Europe" - The remnants of where the process began.
"And I ride down the highway 101. By the side of the ocean headed for sunset." - After much research this must literally mean U.S. Highway 101. It is the westernmost in the U.S. highway system, stretching from Los Angeles to Olympia, WA. The highway passes through San Francisco, over the Golden Gate Bridge and is within eyesight of the pacific ocean for many portions of its length.
“Headed for sunset. For the kingdom come” — It’s possible that this is a reference to Sunset Blvd, but I find that unlikely. The sun sets in the west. Add in the kingdom come and choose your allegory: the end of the world, the end of humanity, the end of western civilization. In other words, the sun sets on us and we’re off to heaven.
“Black planet hanging over the highway. Out of my mind's eye. Out of the memory. Black world out of my mind.” — We continue towards this scenario through our actions and continue to ignore the consequences.
“So dark all over Europe. And the rainbow rises here. In the western sky.” — This indicates it’s dark already in Europe, and thus "here" is somewhere else other than Europe, i.e. California.
“At the end of the great white pier.” — California, maybe even Los Angeles is the end of the pier. The final western stretch of white European economic and cultural expansion. The “white pier” that stretches from the beaches of Europe to California.