I hadn't really thought about meaning of the song other than the sense of frustration cynicism and the reference to the "walk in the snow" which has kind of become a national metaphor for the end of influence and resignation. He is saying that he's having trouble caring about things and is wondering if he should just give up trying...if it's time to go.
The comment about the rose and Quebec above makes me see another angle that may or may not be in there among the rest of what's going on.
The rose is a symbol for the British Empire. Could some tiny part of the song be about the question of whether Canada should get rid of the monarchy? It comes up occasionally and often generates the kind of reaction Page describes "I almost tried to care". The royal family has separated themselves behind their walls, and the rose of the British Empire is perhaps a little tired and wilted.
Also there's the line about revolution going (United States and India left under revolutionary circumstances) and the rest staying (Canada, Australia etc).
It could be too obscure but some of the lyrics seem to back it up. It also could tie in with the whole notion of Empires and globalization.
I hadn't really thought about meaning of the song other than the sense of frustration cynicism and the reference to the "walk in the snow" which has kind of become a national metaphor for the end of influence and resignation. He is saying that he's having trouble caring about things and is wondering if he should just give up trying...if it's time to go.
The comment about the rose and Quebec above makes me see another angle that may or may not be in there among the rest of what's going on.
The rose is a symbol for the British Empire. Could some tiny part of the song be about the question of whether Canada should get rid of the monarchy? It comes up occasionally and often generates the kind of reaction Page describes "I almost tried to care". The royal family has separated themselves behind their walls, and the rose of the British Empire is perhaps a little tired and wilted.
Also there's the line about revolution going (United States and India left under revolutionary circumstances) and the rest staying (Canada, Australia etc).
It could be too obscure but some of the lyrics seem to back it up. It also could tie in with the whole notion of Empires and globalization.