I haven't gotten through the entire album yet, but it seems to me that a lot of this album seems to be directed at his children or at least about having a family and growing older.
I personally think this song, as well as Deadlines and Commitments are Brandon speaking to his children.
He's simply encouraging them, saying all the things a father would want to say to his children: "Don't break character, you've got a lot of heart."
Also, I think he is wishing them the best possible life, and trying to give them advice on how to obtain that ("Rise up like the sun, labor 'till the work is done", "If they drag you through the mud, it doesn't change what's in your blood", etc.) At the same time though he's wondering how his life would have gone differently if he would have taken all of his own advice. (Tell me, what did you see? Was there something out there for me?")
I haven't gotten through the entire album yet, but it seems to me that a lot of this album seems to be directed at his children or at least about having a family and growing older.
I personally think this song, as well as Deadlines and Commitments are Brandon speaking to his children.
He's simply encouraging them, saying all the things a father would want to say to his children: "Don't break character, you've got a lot of heart."
Also, I think he is wishing them the best possible life, and trying to give them advice on how to obtain that ("Rise up like the sun, labor 'till the work is done", "If they drag you through the mud, it doesn't change what's in your blood", etc.) At the same time though he's wondering how his life would have gone differently if he would have taken all of his own advice. (Tell me, what did you see? Was there something out there for me?")