To me this song is about someone who has recently been put in a position that reqires alot of responsibility, and to make it tangible I'll say that it's a public office position. Before the person wanted the position becuase all he saw were the priveldges that came with the position, but not the actual reason the position was created. Now he realizes that he has to mature and deal with these problems because people are depending on him, but he's not sure he wants to. And then there's a disagreement between two parties over which he governs that he has to solve as part of his new responisbilites.
'we expected something, something better than before, we expected something more' is refering to the people who elected him into this office who had hope for him. This shows its not the first time this has happened.
'do you really think you can just put it in a safe behind a painting, lock it up and leave' is his idea for 'solving' the problem, doing nothing about it. He doesn't want to decide because he's worried someone will be upset at his decision.
And sorry this was so long....
'walk away now, and you're gunna start a war' is refering to what he really wants to do with the problem, just walk away and ignore it. Although if he doesn't choose sides everryone involved will be angry and chaos will follow.
'you were always weird but I never had to hold you by the edges like I do now' is the people realizing who they really elected to be in this position.
Wether the person in question ever matured and did what was right instead of what was popular is for the listener to decide. It's really a coming of age song.
Please note that these are just my thoughts, and someone else could have a whole different perspective of the song. And I used the metaphor for a quicker way to explain, rather than a bunch on incoherent babble.
To me this song is about someone who has recently been put in a position that reqires alot of responsibility, and to make it tangible I'll say that it's a public office position. Before the person wanted the position becuase all he saw were the priveldges that came with the position, but not the actual reason the position was created. Now he realizes that he has to mature and deal with these problems because people are depending on him, but he's not sure he wants to. And then there's a disagreement between two parties over which he governs that he has to solve as part of his new responisbilites.
'we expected something, something better than before, we expected something more' is refering to the people who elected him into this office who had hope for him. This shows its not the first time this has happened.
'do you really think you can just put it in a safe behind a painting, lock it up and leave' is his idea for 'solving' the problem, doing nothing about it. He doesn't want to decide because he's worried someone will be upset at his decision.
And sorry this was so long....
'walk away now, and you're gunna start a war' is refering to what he really wants to do with the problem, just walk away and ignore it. Although if he doesn't choose sides everryone involved will be angry and chaos will follow.
'you were always weird but I never had to hold you by the edges like I do now' is the people realizing who they really elected to be in this position.
Wether the person in question ever matured and did what was right instead of what was popular is for the listener to decide. It's really a coming of age song.
Please note that these are just my thoughts, and someone else could have a whole different perspective of the song. And I used the metaphor for a quicker way to explain, rather than a bunch on incoherent babble.