I think the song is generally about a parent's failed marriage, and consequently a child who's grown to fear/loathe relationships, or at least become very cynical.
The beginning lines could refer to simply walking through life, going through life without much care "pissing it away.".
The line "we sit out in the weather" could refer to being dead, buried in the ground. Weather the line is "failure" or "familiar," either way it sounds like a father's advice to his child, don't get too close to someone, wash your hands of familiarity.
I really like the line, "Violence it ripped through the old dogwood fence, See the whole scene unravel." The "old dogwood fence" is the antithesis of a white picket fence. The family wasn't perfectly happy, there was dysfunction and things unraveled. I think the song then takes a turn into questioning faith, which is obvious with my favorite line "But dead folks in the clouds, for crying out loud." Also, the repetition of the lines "they lied at night" seems to discuss hypocrisy or dishonesty despite what was preached. His parents were lying at night, lying next to one another despite their failing relationship. I wonder if the line "our parents' hands: cigarettes, wedding bands" is equating cigarettes and wedding bands. The cigarettes signifying a sort of silent, slow killer. Smoking is a danger, yet people continue years upon years and it wears on them, much like a bad marriage?
Overall just a great song
I think the song is generally about a parent's failed marriage, and consequently a child who's grown to fear/loathe relationships, or at least become very cynical. The beginning lines could refer to simply walking through life, going through life without much care "pissing it away.". The line "we sit out in the weather" could refer to being dead, buried in the ground. Weather the line is "failure" or "familiar," either way it sounds like a father's advice to his child, don't get too close to someone, wash your hands of familiarity. I really like the line, "Violence it ripped through the old dogwood fence, See the whole scene unravel." The "old dogwood fence" is the antithesis of a white picket fence. The family wasn't perfectly happy, there was dysfunction and things unraveled. I think the song then takes a turn into questioning faith, which is obvious with my favorite line "But dead folks in the clouds, for crying out loud." Also, the repetition of the lines "they lied at night" seems to discuss hypocrisy or dishonesty despite what was preached. His parents were lying at night, lying next to one another despite their failing relationship. I wonder if the line "our parents' hands: cigarettes, wedding bands" is equating cigarettes and wedding bands. The cigarettes signifying a sort of silent, slow killer. Smoking is a danger, yet people continue years upon years and it wears on them, much like a bad marriage? Overall just a great song