Um...hi. I've been interested in this song for quite a while, but I always thought this song didn't make sense at all. I remember reading an article somewhere saying that Adam told a magazine that the song was particularly "dear to his heart", as the song had to do with his "hopes and dreams", though at first I didn't see how.
One day, I was bored and decided to do some research on some of the phrases in the lyrics and found some of them were metaphors I had never heard before. :O After reading over the lyrics a few times, I came up with an interpretation of the lyrics. If it's right, then I think what Adam said would make sense. I'm not sure if my interpretation is correct, but I'm pretty sure it's close...so here is what I think it means, and let me know what you think...
Please take a long hard look through your textbook
'Cause I'm history
When I strap my helmet on, I'll be long gone
'Cause I've been dying to leave
I think this means something like, "I'm ready to go on a long journey to achieve my goal. I'm determined to get there, and I'm not going to let anything stop me."
Yeah, I'll ride the range and hide all my loose change
In my bedroom
'Cause riding a dirt bike down a turnpike
Always takes its toll on me
There's a bit of a "pun" in there, if that's what you wanna call it. When someone's doing something that takes a "toll" on them, it normally means that they're doing something that's really tiring or stressing them out. So at first glance, those two lines basically mean, "Riding this dirt bike down a turnpike always tires me out."
"Toll", as a literal meaning, as quoted from the dictionary, is: "a payment or fee exacted by the state, the local authorities, etc., for some right or privilege, as for passage along a road or over a bridge." And I guess he's hiding the "loose change" (money) so the "dirt road" doesn't take his money, or a "toll" from him...get it?
I don't think this verse actually has anything really super meaningful besides that, but who knows...
I've had just about enough of, quote, "diamonds in the rough"* (Everyone says I can do it, but I'm beginning to have my doubts.)
Because my backbone is paper thin (Because I'm not sure if I'm capable of it.)
Get me out of this cavern or I'll cave in (I'm stuck on what to do, help me.)
If the bombs go off the sun will still be shining (Though, even if bad things happen, there's still hope.)
Because I've heard it said that every mushroom cloud has a silver lining**
Though I'm always undermining too deep to know (I was too depressed about my mistakes to see this./I have so little confidence in myself that I don't realize this.)
*"Diamonds in the rough" is a metaphor, meaning that a person has very good potential, but doesn't know it yet.
**Silver lining is also a metaphor, for hope in times of crisis or despair. It is most often associated with the idiom, "Every cloud has a silver lining." Mushroom clouds are "clouds" that resemble the shape of a mushroom, hence the name. They form as a result of a very large explosion, oftentimes from bombs. Adam played a little with this idiom, as you can see.
Swallow a drop of gravel and blacktop
'Cause the road tastes like wintergreen
The wind and the rain smell of oil and octane
Mixed with stale gasoline
I think this verse is basically a whole metaphor for the hardships and pains you'll face as you get closer to your goals.
I'll soak up the sound trying to sleep on the wet ground
I'll get ten minutes give or take
'Cause I just don't foresee myself getting drowsy
When cold integrity keeps me wide awake
Basically, this whole verse means something along the lines of: "I'm restless and can't sleep, because I'm too eager and determined to complete my goal."
I'll keep my helmet on just in case my head caves in (I'll try to be confident and go for it, no matter what.)
'Cause if my thoughts collapse or mind framework snaps (Because if I lose focus on my goal...)
It will make a mess like you wouldn't believe (Then I'll never be able to achieve it.)
Tie my handle bars to the stars so I stay on track (I'm ready and I'll make sure I don't lose track of my dream.)
And if my intentions stray I'll wrench them away (If my confidence ever wavers again, I'll still keep trying.)
Then I'll take my leave and I won't even look back (I'm set on my goal, and I'm never giving up.)
To sum it up, the song's lyrics talk about the struggles he went through to achieve his "hopes and dreams", and never giving up. Well, that's what I think it means...
Um...hi. I've been interested in this song for quite a while, but I always thought this song didn't make sense at all. I remember reading an article somewhere saying that Adam told a magazine that the song was particularly "dear to his heart", as the song had to do with his "hopes and dreams", though at first I didn't see how.
One day, I was bored and decided to do some research on some of the phrases in the lyrics and found some of them were metaphors I had never heard before. :O After reading over the lyrics a few times, I came up with an interpretation of the lyrics. If it's right, then I think what Adam said would make sense. I'm not sure if my interpretation is correct, but I'm pretty sure it's close...so here is what I think it means, and let me know what you think...
Please take a long hard look through your textbook 'Cause I'm history When I strap my helmet on, I'll be long gone 'Cause I've been dying to leave
I think this means something like, "I'm ready to go on a long journey to achieve my goal. I'm determined to get there, and I'm not going to let anything stop me."
Yeah, I'll ride the range and hide all my loose change In my bedroom 'Cause riding a dirt bike down a turnpike Always takes its toll on me
There's a bit of a "pun" in there, if that's what you wanna call it. When someone's doing something that takes a "toll" on them, it normally means that they're doing something that's really tiring or stressing them out. So at first glance, those two lines basically mean, "Riding this dirt bike down a turnpike always tires me out."
"Toll", as a literal meaning, as quoted from the dictionary, is: "a payment or fee exacted by the state, the local authorities, etc., for some right or privilege, as for passage along a road or over a bridge." And I guess he's hiding the "loose change" (money) so the "dirt road" doesn't take his money, or a "toll" from him...get it?
I don't think this verse actually has anything really super meaningful besides that, but who knows...
I've had just about enough of, quote, "diamonds in the rough"* (Everyone says I can do it, but I'm beginning to have my doubts.) Because my backbone is paper thin (Because I'm not sure if I'm capable of it.) Get me out of this cavern or I'll cave in (I'm stuck on what to do, help me.) If the bombs go off the sun will still be shining (Though, even if bad things happen, there's still hope.) Because I've heard it said that every mushroom cloud has a silver lining** Though I'm always undermining too deep to know (I was too depressed about my mistakes to see this./I have so little confidence in myself that I don't realize this.)
*"Diamonds in the rough" is a metaphor, meaning that a person has very good potential, but doesn't know it yet. **Silver lining is also a metaphor, for hope in times of crisis or despair. It is most often associated with the idiom, "Every cloud has a silver lining." Mushroom clouds are "clouds" that resemble the shape of a mushroom, hence the name. They form as a result of a very large explosion, oftentimes from bombs. Adam played a little with this idiom, as you can see.
Swallow a drop of gravel and blacktop 'Cause the road tastes like wintergreen The wind and the rain smell of oil and octane Mixed with stale gasoline
I think this verse is basically a whole metaphor for the hardships and pains you'll face as you get closer to your goals.
I'll soak up the sound trying to sleep on the wet ground I'll get ten minutes give or take 'Cause I just don't foresee myself getting drowsy When cold integrity keeps me wide awake
Basically, this whole verse means something along the lines of: "I'm restless and can't sleep, because I'm too eager and determined to complete my goal."
I'll keep my helmet on just in case my head caves in (I'll try to be confident and go for it, no matter what.) 'Cause if my thoughts collapse or mind framework snaps (Because if I lose focus on my goal...) It will make a mess like you wouldn't believe (Then I'll never be able to achieve it.) Tie my handle bars to the stars so I stay on track (I'm ready and I'll make sure I don't lose track of my dream.) And if my intentions stray I'll wrench them away (If my confidence ever wavers again, I'll still keep trying.) Then I'll take my leave and I won't even look back (I'm set on my goal, and I'm never giving up.)
To sum it up, the song's lyrics talk about the struggles he went through to achieve his "hopes and dreams", and never giving up. Well, that's what I think it means...