I think the song is about dealing with the clash of dreams and reality. The speaker is in love Maria and thats why he wants to look like Elvis (Counting Crows say she is looking for a boy who looks like Elvis) and also has the double meaning of him wanting to be famous. I think thats why he feels bad when Maria turns to drugs "And the powder on the bar was just this one time, The powder on the bar was just this one night, Only to get by". By the whole idea is that one of them (or both) wants to make it as a musician "Was your heart in 4/4 time" means that their heart is music. And the whole thing is that the dream is not working out but he wants it to "And in my head there's all these classic cars, And outlaw cowboy bands". Also the reference to "Souther Accents" has double meaning, one is Maria is homesick for the south and also that Tom Petty is someone who has the life the speaker wants "I always kinda sorta wish I'm someone else". That is the same as the reference to Springsteen "And at night I woke up, With the sheets soaking wet, It's a pretty good song, Maybe you know the rest" it means both that he is feeling that way and also that he wishes he was Springsteen. As for the end I am not sure what the high and lonesome sound means. It probably is a reference to bluegrass but I think it also means this empty sound, like how life is empty without a dream.
Lastly I read a review a while ago that mentions the honesty of gaslight's lyrics. Reading the lyrics does not do the line "I always kinda sorta wish I'm someone else" justice. When you hear it it really seems like some sort of confession you would only say to a close friend. Oh gaslight is totally amazing! I really love the idea of the heart being in 4/4 time. Totally a great line!
I think the song is about dealing with the clash of dreams and reality. The speaker is in love Maria and thats why he wants to look like Elvis (Counting Crows say she is looking for a boy who looks like Elvis) and also has the double meaning of him wanting to be famous. I think thats why he feels bad when Maria turns to drugs "And the powder on the bar was just this one time, The powder on the bar was just this one night, Only to get by". By the whole idea is that one of them (or both) wants to make it as a musician "Was your heart in 4/4 time" means that their heart is music. And the whole thing is that the dream is not working out but he wants it to "And in my head there's all these classic cars, And outlaw cowboy bands". Also the reference to "Souther Accents" has double meaning, one is Maria is homesick for the south and also that Tom Petty is someone who has the life the speaker wants "I always kinda sorta wish I'm someone else". That is the same as the reference to Springsteen "And at night I woke up, With the sheets soaking wet, It's a pretty good song, Maybe you know the rest" it means both that he is feeling that way and also that he wishes he was Springsteen. As for the end I am not sure what the high and lonesome sound means. It probably is a reference to bluegrass but I think it also means this empty sound, like how life is empty without a dream. Lastly I read a review a while ago that mentions the honesty of gaslight's lyrics. Reading the lyrics does not do the line "I always kinda sorta wish I'm someone else" justice. When you hear it it really seems like some sort of confession you would only say to a close friend. Oh gaslight is totally amazing! I really love the idea of the heart being in 4/4 time. Totally a great line!