This song is clearly spiritual and philosophical.
The first 4 lines denote the superficial feeling that the subject feels, that everything is just fine and that there is a certain order in the world. The next 4 lines however depict the true state of things:
'If you stand and reach your arms out wide
Close your eyes and try to fly
It's an underground illusion
Tricking you from side to side'
Standing up and reaching your arms out wide and trying to fly is a metaphor for breaking the mould and being free, and pursuing your dreams. Thus the happiness depicted in the first 4 lines is actually superficial and a mere illusion.
The next 4 lines add to this theory, a kind of self-mocking verse in which he regrets his previous arrogance. He also admits to cheating which may be literal cheating on his previous partner(s) or figurative in which he admits to taking shortcuts in life instead of taking the real path to his dreams/goals.
The chorus then depicts the major theme of the song, which can be summed up in one phrase, 'regret and disappointment'. It is self-explanatory, he had lost sight of his original dream/goal and when the opportunity to have it came, he didn't seize the chance and only realized this in hindsight.
Finally, the next 2 verses are beautifully written.
'Skyscrapers rise between us keeping me from finding you' in which skyscrapers is representing all of modern society and the way most people are superficial zombies who blindly follow social norms and don't have the spark of an enlightened soul - most people grind during the week, have meaningless interactions and go out every weekend. They do not have the passion and the belief that there is greater meaning to life. This kind of bustling society makes it hard for the subject to find his soulmate/true love. This explains the following lines: the concrete architecture represents modern society and culture, and he refers to the minority who are awakened and have soul when he says 'us' and the 'tide' represents the majority, who really are asleep in their own lives and on autopilot. The 'concrete architecture disappearing' means that the only thing keeping the majority from tearing the minority of great thinkers and awakened individuals apart (literally or figuratively) is the democratic process, law and order created from modern society.
This song is clearly spiritual and philosophical. The first 4 lines denote the superficial feeling that the subject feels, that everything is just fine and that there is a certain order in the world. The next 4 lines however depict the true state of things:
'If you stand and reach your arms out wide Close your eyes and try to fly It's an underground illusion Tricking you from side to side'
Standing up and reaching your arms out wide and trying to fly is a metaphor for breaking the mould and being free, and pursuing your dreams. Thus the happiness depicted in the first 4 lines is actually superficial and a mere illusion. The next 4 lines add to this theory, a kind of self-mocking verse in which he regrets his previous arrogance. He also admits to cheating which may be literal cheating on his previous partner(s) or figurative in which he admits to taking shortcuts in life instead of taking the real path to his dreams/goals.
The chorus then depicts the major theme of the song, which can be summed up in one phrase, 'regret and disappointment'. It is self-explanatory, he had lost sight of his original dream/goal and when the opportunity to have it came, he didn't seize the chance and only realized this in hindsight.
Finally, the next 2 verses are beautifully written. 'Skyscrapers rise between us keeping me from finding you' in which skyscrapers is representing all of modern society and the way most people are superficial zombies who blindly follow social norms and don't have the spark of an enlightened soul - most people grind during the week, have meaningless interactions and go out every weekend. They do not have the passion and the belief that there is greater meaning to life. This kind of bustling society makes it hard for the subject to find his soulmate/true love. This explains the following lines: the concrete architecture represents modern society and culture, and he refers to the minority who are awakened and have soul when he says 'us' and the 'tide' represents the majority, who really are asleep in their own lives and on autopilot. The 'concrete architecture disappearing' means that the only thing keeping the majority from tearing the minority of great thinkers and awakened individuals apart (literally or figuratively) is the democratic process, law and order created from modern society.