To be fair, I think it's a 'stab' at several of the major powerholders of the earth.
The zookeeper in the human zoo is a politician - he knows society's gone to hell, but can only say it if asked right. If he simply claims stuff has gone wrong, he'll lose his voters and position with that.
The part about the sacramental post would be about religion/the church - "ain't it funny that machines need a ghost" would mean "isn't it funny that people in modern society need some kind of 'god' to believe in to pull through". The bishop/religious figure in this instance replies as well that he can't deny it, but that he can't speak out, as he too would cause a political scandal by claiming so.
The grim proprietor, I'm not sure about. My guess is that he'd represent the CEO of a big company. The I-figure plies to him with "milk and tangerines" which is probably a metaphor as well, just one I don't get. This 'CEO' would scream when the I-figure suggested he weren't 'brutish and mean' since that's what you need to remain at such a position. Then he too ends up singing the chorus and in it admitting he knows society's gone to hell but can't freely admit it in fear of causing a riot or losing his position.
To be fair, I think it's a 'stab' at several of the major powerholders of the earth.
The zookeeper in the human zoo is a politician - he knows society's gone to hell, but can only say it if asked right. If he simply claims stuff has gone wrong, he'll lose his voters and position with that.
The part about the sacramental post would be about religion/the church - "ain't it funny that machines need a ghost" would mean "isn't it funny that people in modern society need some kind of 'god' to believe in to pull through". The bishop/religious figure in this instance replies as well that he can't deny it, but that he can't speak out, as he too would cause a political scandal by claiming so.
The grim proprietor, I'm not sure about. My guess is that he'd represent the CEO of a big company. The I-figure plies to him with "milk and tangerines" which is probably a metaphor as well, just one I don't get. This 'CEO' would scream when the I-figure suggested he weren't 'brutish and mean' since that's what you need to remain at such a position. Then he too ends up singing the chorus and in it admitting he knows society's gone to hell but can't freely admit it in fear of causing a riot or losing his position.