I find the meaning simple but I happen to liken it to Dave's atheist line of thought. I think he feels people are judgmental and are quick to assume their judgments. They don't take a step back, they run right through the motions because that's what they've always done. To me, the key here is "because of original sin." It hearkens all quick responses to "just do as you've always known." Don't think about it.
The keys here aren't anything with the bear or the monkey or the dog. Those are just events that happen and the responses that follow. "Everyone goes in the end." Who cares how it happened? You have to go sometime, who cares what the circumstance? The "lifetime's passed me by" is never taking a look back and thinking about what's actually going on around you.
In the end, I feel the true emphasis of the song is his only direct plea to the listener... "look in the mirror my friend." Don't wait for something to come along to automatically cause a response. Stop, realize that you yourself generate a whole myriad of stimuli and get to work.
Its very.. existential. But a lot of what we atheists think about is existenial. :)
I find the meaning simple but I happen to liken it to Dave's atheist line of thought. I think he feels people are judgmental and are quick to assume their judgments. They don't take a step back, they run right through the motions because that's what they've always done. To me, the key here is "because of original sin." It hearkens all quick responses to "just do as you've always known." Don't think about it.
The keys here aren't anything with the bear or the monkey or the dog. Those are just events that happen and the responses that follow. "Everyone goes in the end." Who cares how it happened? You have to go sometime, who cares what the circumstance? The "lifetime's passed me by" is never taking a look back and thinking about what's actually going on around you.
In the end, I feel the true emphasis of the song is his only direct plea to the listener... "look in the mirror my friend." Don't wait for something to come along to automatically cause a response. Stop, realize that you yourself generate a whole myriad of stimuli and get to work.
Its very.. existential. But a lot of what we atheists think about is existenial. :)