Given that Davey, the singer and lyricist of AFI, went to a Catholic school, I don't find the presence of religious imagry odd. Given how much of his writing incorporates it, I consider it more of a metaphor for a part of the message he his trying to get accross. It is similar to how a word itself has history and stems, but what it means is only loosely related to each stem's meaning.
What I see in these lyrics is a person who is well regarded. Not nessicarily a superstar or a leader of many, but anyone with some kind of superficial favor or talent. This person does not believe they are all that they are percieved to be, and they will ultimately break the illusion. Out of a combination of self-loathing, fear (of both not being good enough and of it's consequences), and a desire to be viewed favorably, the speaker debates committing suicide. He likely percieves himself to have peaked. Metaphors in the song have to do with martyrs, and that is what he hopes to attain through his suicide in addition to freedom from his life.
I don't think the Nazi-esque imagry of the video is as significant as many have made it out to be. It is a very effective way of showing a detached leader held high above his mindless, rigid, stubborn and demanding followers. I find the banners to be more telling. They represent a mask and a barrier between the followers and leader. The followers may not even know Davey is on the roof. They certainly do not care what he has to say, as they go on roboticly.
(What I know about Davey swould suggest that he is the person debating suicide... but I may be wrong. It may be only a character.)
http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858588589/ (If the link isn't doing what I want, it is to NobodyImportant's analysis. It should be on the 6th page after mine. I think it does well.)
Given that Davey, the singer and lyricist of AFI, went to a Catholic school, I don't find the presence of religious imagry odd. Given how much of his writing incorporates it, I consider it more of a metaphor for a part of the message he his trying to get accross. It is similar to how a word itself has history and stems, but what it means is only loosely related to each stem's meaning.
What I see in these lyrics is a person who is well regarded. Not nessicarily a superstar or a leader of many, but anyone with some kind of superficial favor or talent. This person does not believe they are all that they are percieved to be, and they will ultimately break the illusion. Out of a combination of self-loathing, fear (of both not being good enough and of it's consequences), and a desire to be viewed favorably, the speaker debates committing suicide. He likely percieves himself to have peaked. Metaphors in the song have to do with martyrs, and that is what he hopes to attain through his suicide in addition to freedom from his life.
I don't think the Nazi-esque imagry of the video is as significant as many have made it out to be. It is a very effective way of showing a detached leader held high above his mindless, rigid, stubborn and demanding followers. I find the banners to be more telling. They represent a mask and a barrier between the followers and leader. The followers may not even know Davey is on the roof. They certainly do not care what he has to say, as they go on roboticly.
(What I know about Davey swould suggest that he is the person debating suicide... but I may be wrong. It may be only a character.)