I agree with majority of the opinions but I have a bit of a different view. I think Paper wings represent two things, 1 like most people said instability, and 2 I think he's also saying he's seen them do amazing things, saying they've excelled at something and they went pretty far (halfway 'round the world) until they made a mistake and hit rock bottom (spiraling down) and gave up (with no one else around to catch you falling down) meaning they abandoned everyone and their encouragement (also something everyone has seemed to miss at the very start he says just before you go it seems to be saying they're trying to get a dead end job), and they're trying to act like they're happy with their life but they're actually disappointed with their failure and are hurting (between each smile there's a tear in your eye).
Well that's my understanding of the song, I hope it helped.
And for the record Paper Wings is my favorite song by Rise Against, in fact it's one of my all time favorites and the majority of music I listen to is metal, (although I do listen to lots of Billy Talent and Rise Against) so I don't understand how some people call it their weakest song because to me it's pure genius and how they recorded it is amazing composure.
I agree with majority of the opinions but I have a bit of a different view. I think Paper wings represent two things, 1 like most people said instability, and 2 I think he's also saying he's seen them do amazing things, saying they've excelled at something and they went pretty far (halfway 'round the world) until they made a mistake and hit rock bottom (spiraling down) and gave up (with no one else around to catch you falling down) meaning they abandoned everyone and their encouragement (also something everyone has seemed to miss at the very start he says just before you go it seems to be saying they're trying to get a dead end job), and they're trying to act like they're happy with their life but they're actually disappointed with their failure and are hurting (between each smile there's a tear in your eye). Well that's my understanding of the song, I hope it helped.
And for the record Paper Wings is my favorite song by Rise Against, in fact it's one of my all time favorites and the majority of music I listen to is metal, (although I do listen to lots of Billy Talent and Rise Against) so I don't understand how some people call it their weakest song because to me it's pure genius and how they recorded it is amazing composure.