This is a somewhat bipolar song about creativity or more specifically, the lack of creativity in depressing and down times. "The skirts go up Before the war" - life is cyclical and when there is creativity and energy things are fun and relaxed, but its all temporal. The down-cycle is inevitable due to the human condition and we are all subject to the forces at play - "the maddening crowds "They're ruined like the rest of us". The writer reflects the sense of being a ruined animated puppet going round and round, passing through time.
"The traffic was slow for the crash years" - boredom and tedium with not a lot of inspiration, "roll up the windows" - could equally be phrased "pull down the blinds" with "As a rule" being a positive qualifier. A dark time with the need to infuse light "Light a candle's end" - we're all low on light in the down-cycle. "Your finger's raised, you're looking for the word" referring to the writing process, and the best material comes from the ether - like McCartney's "Scrambled Eggs" or Richard's "Satisfaction" or from stumbling across the right riff. "Another drag Spectacular view" - my guess, a gestalt; a cigarette, looking out the window at nature's inspiration, even when you're down. "What can you lose" - another positive perspective from the writer's inner dialog, a small voice, but a voice nevertheless.
"Honey child you're not safe here" - I agree a Smith's reference, and poignant in this cultural season of fear. "The ruins were wild" brings to mind Cat Stevens Ruins - "It's so quiet in the ruins"(song's on my Iphone). "Tonight will be open mic" - perhaps the next spark will hit the stage - renewal, and darkness tends to spark creativity.
This is a somewhat bipolar song about creativity or more specifically, the lack of creativity in depressing and down times. "The skirts go up Before the war" - life is cyclical and when there is creativity and energy things are fun and relaxed, but its all temporal. The down-cycle is inevitable due to the human condition and we are all subject to the forces at play - "the maddening crowds "They're ruined like the rest of us". The writer reflects the sense of being a ruined animated puppet going round and round, passing through time.
"The traffic was slow for the crash years" - boredom and tedium with not a lot of inspiration, "roll up the windows" - could equally be phrased "pull down the blinds" with "As a rule" being a positive qualifier. A dark time with the need to infuse light "Light a candle's end" - we're all low on light in the down-cycle. "Your finger's raised, you're looking for the word" referring to the writing process, and the best material comes from the ether - like McCartney's "Scrambled Eggs" or Richard's "Satisfaction" or from stumbling across the right riff. "Another drag Spectacular view" - my guess, a gestalt; a cigarette, looking out the window at nature's inspiration, even when you're down. "What can you lose" - another positive perspective from the writer's inner dialog, a small voice, but a voice nevertheless.
"Honey child you're not safe here" - I agree a Smith's reference, and poignant in this cultural season of fear. "The ruins were wild" brings to mind Cat Stevens Ruins - "It's so quiet in the ruins"(song's on my Iphone). "Tonight will be open mic" - perhaps the next spark will hit the stage - renewal, and darkness tends to spark creativity.