I always listened to this song with the notion of the earthquake being quite literal and killing the protagonist/dreamer from the first few verses. It also would function as a demonstration though as to how a random, senseless tragedy or disaster can destroy the dreams of people going about their daily lives, with no greater purpose or meaning than the damage it causes.
I love how the lyrics themselves take a hard right turn halfway through, becoming about something entirely different than what the first half is setting up. The point at which the change occurs "San Andreas fault moved its fingers through the ground" becomes itself a faultline in the song, breaking it in half and changing all that came before into something almost unrecognizable. I also love her choice of words to express the quake itself there - using almost gentle imagery to contrast what would necessarily be a very massive violent moment.
I feel like I have to add - I heard this song again today and it instantly brought made me think of the American teacher that was just killed in the earthquake/tsunami over in Japan this week, along with so many others people. It seemed to me her story could be told almost word for word by this song.
I always listened to this song with the notion of the earthquake being quite literal and killing the protagonist/dreamer from the first few verses. It also would function as a demonstration though as to how a random, senseless tragedy or disaster can destroy the dreams of people going about their daily lives, with no greater purpose or meaning than the damage it causes.
I love how the lyrics themselves take a hard right turn halfway through, becoming about something entirely different than what the first half is setting up. The point at which the change occurs "San Andreas fault moved its fingers through the ground" becomes itself a faultline in the song, breaking it in half and changing all that came before into something almost unrecognizable. I also love her choice of words to express the quake itself there - using almost gentle imagery to contrast what would necessarily be a very massive violent moment.
I feel like I have to add - I heard this song again today and it instantly brought made me think of the American teacher that was just killed in the earthquake/tsunami over in Japan this week, along with so many others people. It seemed to me her story could be told almost word for word by this song.
Well, maybe "word for word" is a bit much, but its still pretty striking.
Well, maybe "word for word" is a bit much, but its still pretty striking.