Here's what Ari wrote in an interview about the song:
"TWOYW- in GENERAL: A commentary on the unexamined life that many people
lead: replete with abdication of responsibility- and ultimately how the
writer (that's me) feels that this world is not his own (because although
I understand, I cannot relate).
In specific- the first lines are defeatist- the idea that even though the
"answers" have been around forever, no one cares enough to listen to them.
It goes on to reference Plato's Cave, with the idea that the denizens
blame knowledge for their unhappiness, and would rather live ignorant than
self aware and vigilant.
The chorus is pretty self explanatory- when you don't know what you are
and subsequently, what your purpose is, you never know what you really
want or need.
The second verse hits on the idea that even the most self deluded or
ignorant tend to have moments of clarity, and these often occur in the
night time, when no one is around to distract or impress- but even then,
projection on other people occurs.
Finally, the idea of a person with great internal conflict, and the
analogy of the feelings that people have in a dimming relationship (afraid
to end for need of safety but running out of the love that sustained it)
and how that drains energy and life. And the wasted potential of the self
aware human being resulting in a "death" before the body. The things we
want define who we are- so know who you are, and you can get what you
want!"
Here's what Ari wrote in an interview about the song:
"TWOYW- in GENERAL: A commentary on the unexamined life that many people lead: replete with abdication of responsibility- and ultimately how the writer (that's me) feels that this world is not his own (because although I understand, I cannot relate).
In specific- the first lines are defeatist- the idea that even though the "answers" have been around forever, no one cares enough to listen to them. It goes on to reference Plato's Cave, with the idea that the denizens blame knowledge for their unhappiness, and would rather live ignorant than self aware and vigilant.
The chorus is pretty self explanatory- when you don't know what you are and subsequently, what your purpose is, you never know what you really want or need.
The second verse hits on the idea that even the most self deluded or ignorant tend to have moments of clarity, and these often occur in the night time, when no one is around to distract or impress- but even then, projection on other people occurs.
Finally, the idea of a person with great internal conflict, and the analogy of the feelings that people have in a dimming relationship (afraid to end for need of safety but running out of the love that sustained it) and how that drains energy and life. And the wasted potential of the self aware human being resulting in a "death" before the body. The things we want define who we are- so know who you are, and you can get what you want!"