I interpret this song as centering on political consciousness, with sleep being akin to a state of lack of awareness, political unconsciousness. "Something for the rag and bone man", policies that dissuage the suffering of lower socioeconomic groups, the government replies "over my dead body". "We don't want the loonies taking over" we don't want fringe political groups having a say, informing political decisions etc, silence them "tip toe round, tie them down".
I think that this is the most likely explanation here, though I don't think it's the government responding "over my dead body" but the population.
I think that this is the most likely explanation here, though I don't think it's the government responding "over my dead body" but the population.
The "Someone's son or someone's daughter" line is the usual "think of the children" angle that politicians and the media use to get people all riled up, the monster/loonies may be the opposition and tiptoeing around and tying people down could be a reference to eroding civil liberties.
The "Someone's son or someone's daughter" line is the usual "think of the children" angle that politicians and the media use to get people all riled up, the monster/loonies may be the opposition and tiptoeing around and tying people down could be a reference to eroding civil liberties.
I interpret this song as centering on political consciousness, with sleep being akin to a state of lack of awareness, political unconsciousness. "Something for the rag and bone man", policies that dissuage the suffering of lower socioeconomic groups, the government replies "over my dead body". "We don't want the loonies taking over" we don't want fringe political groups having a say, informing political decisions etc, silence them "tip toe round, tie them down".
I think that this is the most likely explanation here, though I don't think it's the government responding "over my dead body" but the population.
I think that this is the most likely explanation here, though I don't think it's the government responding "over my dead body" but the population.
The "Someone's son or someone's daughter" line is the usual "think of the children" angle that politicians and the media use to get people all riled up, the monster/loonies may be the opposition and tiptoeing around and tying people down could be a reference to eroding civil liberties.
The "Someone's son or someone's daughter" line is the usual "think of the children" angle that politicians and the media use to get people all riled up, the monster/loonies may be the opposition and tiptoeing around and tying people down could be a reference to eroding civil liberties.