I think this song evokes the feelings of disillusionment and futility of Heller's Catch-22.
Literally, I think the song is from the point of a view of a Air Force bomber who was injured during one of the many air raids in WW2, and is now confined to a bed in a hospital, ruminating about the transience of life.
"I feel it coming on a sense of welling grief, and though they're serving samovar I think I'd rather be up in an airplane"
He's out of the action and recuperating, but after his experiences he is no longer able to enjoy civilian life, he's seen how fragile it is. Perhaps he has PTSD.
"The leaves the gardener rakes are articles of faith" suggests that people going about their normal chores are unaware or unwilling to believe how meaningless they are in the face of the destructive forces of war.
"I see where you grew up and the murderer in me"
He simultaneously connects with his targets and with his remorse at his role in the war.
@bluremi I was totally thinking the same thing about it being the point of view of a pilot in a war.
@bluremi I was totally thinking the same thing about it being the point of view of a pilot in a war.
"They say there was an ice age... Incidents of road rage" I see this as a newfound perspective on life (gained from his experiences in the war, as you said) - how petty and fickle our daily squabbles are in the face of all of history.
"They say there was an ice age... Incidents of road rage" I see this as a newfound perspective on life (gained from his experiences in the war, as you said) - how petty and fickle our daily squabbles are in the face of all of history.
I also like how the two verses lead into the chorus with opposite feelings - at first he says he'd rather be in an airplane, then expressed anger at ever being...
I also like how the two verses lead into the chorus with opposite feelings - at first he says he'd rather be in an airplane, then expressed anger at ever being put up in an airplane in the first place. I think he did enjoy flying, and even found it to be perhaps the most freeing experience he's had, being up and away from the rest of the world, and yet being up there is also what led to his injuries and worse, his hand in the deaths of others.
I'm not sure if that fully qualified as a catch-22, but it would be apropos.
Also, wow, this song came out over 4 years ago? I am late to the party.
I think this song evokes the feelings of disillusionment and futility of Heller's Catch-22.
Literally, I think the song is from the point of a view of a Air Force bomber who was injured during one of the many air raids in WW2, and is now confined to a bed in a hospital, ruminating about the transience of life.
"I feel it coming on a sense of welling grief, and though they're serving samovar I think I'd rather be up in an airplane"
He's out of the action and recuperating, but after his experiences he is no longer able to enjoy civilian life, he's seen how fragile it is. Perhaps he has PTSD.
"The leaves the gardener rakes are articles of faith" suggests that people going about their normal chores are unaware or unwilling to believe how meaningless they are in the face of the destructive forces of war.
"I see where you grew up and the murderer in me"
He simultaneously connects with his targets and with his remorse at his role in the war.
@bluremi I was totally thinking the same thing about it being the point of view of a pilot in a war.
@bluremi I was totally thinking the same thing about it being the point of view of a pilot in a war.
"They say there was an ice age... Incidents of road rage" I see this as a newfound perspective on life (gained from his experiences in the war, as you said) - how petty and fickle our daily squabbles are in the face of all of history.
"They say there was an ice age... Incidents of road rage" I see this as a newfound perspective on life (gained from his experiences in the war, as you said) - how petty and fickle our daily squabbles are in the face of all of history.
I also like how the two verses lead into the chorus with opposite feelings - at first he says he'd rather be in an airplane, then expressed anger at ever being...
I also like how the two verses lead into the chorus with opposite feelings - at first he says he'd rather be in an airplane, then expressed anger at ever being put up in an airplane in the first place. I think he did enjoy flying, and even found it to be perhaps the most freeing experience he's had, being up and away from the rest of the world, and yet being up there is also what led to his injuries and worse, his hand in the deaths of others. I'm not sure if that fully qualified as a catch-22, but it would be apropos.
Also, wow, this song came out over 4 years ago? I am late to the party.