This song is about a variety of feelings and behaviors, but as to just one -- at the time it came out I got
the sense that the part about the leaves falling without changing color (and perhaps the dead bird in
the gravel, too) had to do with the phenomenon of acid rain & its effect on the trees & wildlife,
which was a serious problem in the northern U.S. and Canada,
and remains so though somewhat abated now by environmental protection measures taken in response. That's
only part of what the song refers to but some of the rest of it is about the routines and patterns of
people going about their business. If you a drawn in by the song, it's a great way to illustrate
how environmental degradation -- in its relatively early stages -- does have noticeable effects,
but people tend to go blithely on about their business, only a few even paying any attention.
This song is about a variety of feelings and behaviors, but as to just one -- at the time it came out I got the sense that the part about the leaves falling without changing color (and perhaps the dead bird in the gravel, too) had to do with the phenomenon of acid rain & its effect on the trees & wildlife, which was a serious problem in the northern U.S. and Canada, and remains so though somewhat abated now by environmental protection measures taken in response. That's only part of what the song refers to but some of the rest of it is about the routines and patterns of people going about their business. If you a drawn in by the song, it's a great way to illustrate how environmental degradation -- in its relatively early stages -- does have noticeable effects, but people tend to go blithely on about their business, only a few even paying any attention.