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Hope this isn't too obvious to point out, but I think it's a sign of a truly great song that it can withstand so many different personal interpretations. A teacher taught me once that it's a paradox, but the more intensely personal your art is, the more universal it becomes. And our reactions to art are going to vary.
This song is my first exposure to KOL (I know, I live in a cave ). I saw the video late one night last week, and the astonishing visuals seemed to provide a radically different spin. So what the song means to me comes out of a real ignorance of who they are - it's based on the song and the video alone. It may not be "right" but it's my own take...
The song seems to be full of intense longing for personal peace and balance and spiritual growth and fulfillment, but the pursuit of that is hindered by the simple act of being alive and battling alone against an abrasive world. Nothing he does is understood by others. He's reached a brick wall, and just wants to die ("go home") because it's all so very difficult and it just doesn't feel right. He realizes he has no center anymore and he gets a notion to end it all.
The "don't knock it" is a kind of universal wisdom, a voice from within, that is comforting and encouraging him. It's saying "don't give up, give it all another chance and keep trying even though it's hard." He's been through this before, and he's going to survive it. It's just another lesson about being alive.
At this point in the chorus, the brick wall behind them breaks open and is demolished in a refining, purifying fire that rains debris all around them. It's dangerous and cataclysmic, but they are in a kind of focused oblivion - unhurt and alive. They are making music no matter what, and all is surprisingly well. His notion was based on fear, and when you get past that, you break through into an equilibrium that doesn't depend on circumstances.
But I can also see it being about him getting drunk/hurtful and wanting to be different, and wanting to apologize even though it doesn't feel right.
34 min ago
Rated 0 rate down rate up Hope this isn't too obvious to point out, but I think it's a sign of a truly great song that it can withstand so many different personal interpretations. A teacher taught me once that it's a paradox, but the more intensely personal your art is, the more universal it becomes. And our reactions to art are going to vary.
This song is my first exposure to KOL (I know, I live in a cave ). I saw the video late one night last week, and the astonishing visuals seemed to provide a radically different spin. So what the song means to me comes out of a real ignorance of who they are - it's based on the song and the video alone. It may not be "right" but it's my own take...
The song seems to be full of intense longing for personal peace and balance and spiritual growth and fulfillment, but the pursuit of that is hindered by the simple act of being alive and battling alone against an abrasive world. Nothing he does is understood by others. He's reached a brick wall, and just wants to die ("go home") because it's all so very difficult and it just doesn't feel right. He realizes he has no center anymore and he gets a notion to end it all.
The "don't knock it" is a kind of universal wisdom, a voice from within, that is comforting and encouraging him. It's saying "don't give up, give it all another chance and keep trying even though it's hard." He's been through this before, and he's going to survive it. It's just another lesson about being alive.
At this point in the chorus, the brick wall behind them breaks open and is demolished in a refining, purifying fire that rains debris all around them. It's dangerous and cataclysmic, but they are in a kind of focused oblivion - unhurt and alive. They are making music no matter what, and all is surprisingly well. His notion was based on fear, and when you get past that, you break through into an equilibrium that doesn't depend on circumstances.
But I can also see it being about him getting drunk/hurtful and wanting to be different, and wanting to apologize even though it doesn't feel right.