Isolations, dotted lines
Seas of concrete, wild eyes
Streaking colors, blurred to one
Always moving, blinding sun
Blinding sun
Cold discomfort, safety glass
Seasons turning, dying grass
California, gilded crowns
Mile markers, counting down
This seems to be describing roads. "streaking colors, blurred to one" when you're driving fast, you don't have time to take in your surroundings. Miles markers leading you somewhere.
Somewhere down, down
Down in the ocean of sound, sound
We'll live in slow-motion
And be free
With doors unlocked and open
Doors unlocked and open
Roads lead to cites, and cities are never quiet. There's always something happening and life moves so quickly. It's also pretty lonely. You don't want anything to do with the dozens or hundreds of people you walk by or encounter during your day. It's lonely and stifling. Everyone locks their doors because every stranger is a potential threat. You have to be careful with so many unknown elements around you.
When you live out in the middle of nowhere, life is so much different. The only noises at night are crickets and cars driving by. You can leave your door unlocked because there aren't many people around to break in. You don't have that same fear. Everything is open but not as lonely. You can be closer to the people around you even if there's more distance. Life is so much slower.
I think Ben is describing a time when the city, I would guess LA, isn't so stifling and lonely. Where you can trust your neighbors and leave your door unlocked without the fear of someone taking advantage. A time when people slow down and enjoy the things around them. The way he sings it sounds really calm and peaceful to me, which emphasizes the point.
SaN: I think you are on the right track, but I suspect it is more than that. Ben's lyrics often have a real depth to them which is partly why I love the band. The song's rhythm and beat really sound like highway driving and the words reinforce that, so I think you are right on with that part.
SaN: I think you are on the right track, but I suspect it is more than that. Ben's lyrics often have a real depth to them which is partly why I love the band. The song's rhythm and beat really sound like highway driving and the words reinforce that, so I think you are right on with that part.
"Counting down" signals that he is driving into the city, in California, probably southern, probably LA as you suggest. The ocean of sound, I believe is the city -- the hum, the traffic, the people, the noises all around, that...
"Counting down" signals that he is driving into the city, in California, probably southern, probably LA as you suggest. The ocean of sound, I believe is the city -- the hum, the traffic, the people, the noises all around, that background ocean of sound. But -- here's the divergence. I don't think he's talking about a time in the past. He is saying "We will live in slow motion and be free" -- we are going to the city, we will live in the city, but on our terms. We will create our own life and make ourselves free from the bustle around us. We will live with doors unlocked and open -- our personal commitment to life. Where? We are unsure -- it is somewhere in the ocean of sound. This deliberate approach to life, a commitment to living free, is in opposition to the "isolation" that so many feel who live in the city and feel cut off and alone while surrounded by people.
My interpretation:
Isolations, dotted lines Seas of concrete, wild eyes Streaking colors, blurred to one Always moving, blinding sun Blinding sun Cold discomfort, safety glass Seasons turning, dying grass California, gilded crowns Mile markers, counting down
This seems to be describing roads. "streaking colors, blurred to one" when you're driving fast, you don't have time to take in your surroundings. Miles markers leading you somewhere.
Somewhere down, down Down in the ocean of sound, sound We'll live in slow-motion And be free With doors unlocked and open Doors unlocked and open
Roads lead to cites, and cities are never quiet. There's always something happening and life moves so quickly. It's also pretty lonely. You don't want anything to do with the dozens or hundreds of people you walk by or encounter during your day. It's lonely and stifling. Everyone locks their doors because every stranger is a potential threat. You have to be careful with so many unknown elements around you.
When you live out in the middle of nowhere, life is so much different. The only noises at night are crickets and cars driving by. You can leave your door unlocked because there aren't many people around to break in. You don't have that same fear. Everything is open but not as lonely. You can be closer to the people around you even if there's more distance. Life is so much slower.
I think Ben is describing a time when the city, I would guess LA, isn't so stifling and lonely. Where you can trust your neighbors and leave your door unlocked without the fear of someone taking advantage. A time when people slow down and enjoy the things around them. The way he sings it sounds really calm and peaceful to me, which emphasizes the point.
SaN: I think you are on the right track, but I suspect it is more than that. Ben's lyrics often have a real depth to them which is partly why I love the band. The song's rhythm and beat really sound like highway driving and the words reinforce that, so I think you are right on with that part.
SaN: I think you are on the right track, but I suspect it is more than that. Ben's lyrics often have a real depth to them which is partly why I love the band. The song's rhythm and beat really sound like highway driving and the words reinforce that, so I think you are right on with that part.
"Counting down" signals that he is driving into the city, in California, probably southern, probably LA as you suggest. The ocean of sound, I believe is the city -- the hum, the traffic, the people, the noises all around, that...
"Counting down" signals that he is driving into the city, in California, probably southern, probably LA as you suggest. The ocean of sound, I believe is the city -- the hum, the traffic, the people, the noises all around, that background ocean of sound. But -- here's the divergence. I don't think he's talking about a time in the past. He is saying "We will live in slow motion and be free" -- we are going to the city, we will live in the city, but on our terms. We will create our own life and make ourselves free from the bustle around us. We will live with doors unlocked and open -- our personal commitment to life. Where? We are unsure -- it is somewhere in the ocean of sound. This deliberate approach to life, a commitment to living free, is in opposition to the "isolation" that so many feel who live in the city and feel cut off and alone while surrounded by people.
I hope the fictional driver succeeds! :)