I think that the chorus of this song is about carrying on the face of adversity:
"When there's fire on the ground
Should it turn my whole world around?"
Ie, 'When the world around me is burning, should I let that stand in my way?'
"When the wheel's in the lake
Should I think it's a big mistake?"
Brings to mind a car accident; certainly something tragic. The singer asks himself, 'Should I blame fate somehow and decide that there has been some cosmic error, or should I accept tragedy for what it is, and move through it?'
"When there's smoke in the sky
Please wake me, I don't know why"
Here the singer shows that in spite of his resilience, he is not indifferent to the suffering in the world. He doesn't know why he cares, but he does.
"When your hand stretches out
Is it way beyond, way beyond my reach?"
Finally though, the singer admits his isolation. When someone reaches out to him - whether to save him or be saved - he questions whether he is capable of being rescued or of making a difference.
I think that the chorus of this song is about carrying on the face of adversity:
"When there's fire on the ground Should it turn my whole world around?"
Ie, 'When the world around me is burning, should I let that stand in my way?'
"When the wheel's in the lake Should I think it's a big mistake?"
Brings to mind a car accident; certainly something tragic. The singer asks himself, 'Should I blame fate somehow and decide that there has been some cosmic error, or should I accept tragedy for what it is, and move through it?'
"When there's smoke in the sky Please wake me, I don't know why"
Here the singer shows that in spite of his resilience, he is not indifferent to the suffering in the world. He doesn't know why he cares, but he does.
"When your hand stretches out Is it way beyond, way beyond my reach?"
Finally though, the singer admits his isolation. When someone reaches out to him - whether to save him or be saved - he questions whether he is capable of being rescued or of making a difference.