This song is definitely about PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). The entire album is WWII themed, and one of the major issues with any war is that soldiers afterward suffer terribly from PTSD as a result of their experiences. Classic PTSD is shutting down your emotional center, so that you're unable to feel. You become numb so that you do not have to face the pain you're feeling.
I don't believe he necessary is broken up with the girl. I believe their relationship is just on the rocks because of the change in his behavior after coming home from the war. If things were over between them, he wouldn't be saying things like "Until we find a new beginning". Believing they would find a new beginning if she had broken up with him would require an unrealistic amount of denial, and its unlikely that's what they meant. Its also bizarre that they would still be meeting so often. The problem is that because he's become numb, he isn't able to be the same companion to her that he was before, and he doesn't know what to do.
The line "Cause it's safe on the side of caution, but, baby, it's so far away from you." explains it. He wants to be numb so he doesn't have to deal with all the pain he has experienced from the war ("side of caution"), but the fact that he refuses to feel is pushing her away. This idea of being unable to feel recurs throughout the entire song. Along with blocking out the pain, he's also blocked out his ability to give/receive love. "Let me know when it's safe to begin to feel." Its pretty self explanatory.
This song is definitely about PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). The entire album is WWII themed, and one of the major issues with any war is that soldiers afterward suffer terribly from PTSD as a result of their experiences. Classic PTSD is shutting down your emotional center, so that you're unable to feel. You become numb so that you do not have to face the pain you're feeling. I don't believe he necessary is broken up with the girl. I believe their relationship is just on the rocks because of the change in his behavior after coming home from the war. If things were over between them, he wouldn't be saying things like "Until we find a new beginning". Believing they would find a new beginning if she had broken up with him would require an unrealistic amount of denial, and its unlikely that's what they meant. Its also bizarre that they would still be meeting so often. The problem is that because he's become numb, he isn't able to be the same companion to her that he was before, and he doesn't know what to do. The line "Cause it's safe on the side of caution, but, baby, it's so far away from you." explains it. He wants to be numb so he doesn't have to deal with all the pain he has experienced from the war ("side of caution"), but the fact that he refuses to feel is pushing her away. This idea of being unable to feel recurs throughout the entire song. Along with blocking out the pain, he's also blocked out his ability to give/receive love. "Let me know when it's safe to begin to feel." Its pretty self explanatory.