Simply put, this song is about a man who finds himself experiencing the darkness on the edge of town. The song is non-descript: it could be an outlaw, a soldier, or the blue collar (anti-) hero of so many Springsteen songs. But he's there. The first verse overviews the situation, the journey ahead is one where some get paid and others pay in blood. The second verse is the man's bravado; his gallows humor in describing his clothing and his reliance on his song to sing is his own attempt to find strength. The third verse is the reality -- he's alone, lost, searching, and he doesn't know whether he'll come out of this thing. But still, the hope that humanity (the fever in his soul) will save him.
"I'll meet you further on up the road" is a promise to make it through. It's a farewell put off (what do you say to the ones you leave behind when you head off into danger?). It's also an acknowledgement of something better no matter what -- "one sunny morning, we'll rise I know" is refusing to acknowledge the finality of mortality.
Personally, in the context of 9/11, I've always seen it as a song about a military man confronting the war ahead. However, I believe this song pre-dates 9/11 (possibly from the Tom Joad era?).
Simply put, this song is about a man who finds himself experiencing the darkness on the edge of town. The song is non-descript: it could be an outlaw, a soldier, or the blue collar (anti-) hero of so many Springsteen songs. But he's there. The first verse overviews the situation, the journey ahead is one where some get paid and others pay in blood. The second verse is the man's bravado; his gallows humor in describing his clothing and his reliance on his song to sing is his own attempt to find strength. The third verse is the reality -- he's alone, lost, searching, and he doesn't know whether he'll come out of this thing. But still, the hope that humanity (the fever in his soul) will save him.
"I'll meet you further on up the road" is a promise to make it through. It's a farewell put off (what do you say to the ones you leave behind when you head off into danger?). It's also an acknowledgement of something better no matter what -- "one sunny morning, we'll rise I know" is refusing to acknowledge the finality of mortality.
Personally, in the context of 9/11, I've always seen it as a song about a military man confronting the war ahead. However, I believe this song pre-dates 9/11 (possibly from the Tom Joad era?).