Lyric discussion by fandomHipster 

Cover art for Recycled Air lyrics by Postal Service, The

i think that recycled air is about someone who lost something important to them and is trying to get away and forget.

I take a breath And pull the air in until there's nothing left this could mean that the singer is "preparing for liftoff-" bracing himself to try and leave his negative memories.

I'm feeling green Like teenage lovers between the sheets the last line is probably jsut a simile, but could refer to a lost love. he's feeling refreshed and is beginning to get used to starting over again.

Knuckles clenched to white As the landing gear retract for flight he's afraid of the path ahead and is still remembering the pain of his nostalgia.

My head's a balloon Inflating with the altitude this could mean hes conflicted about his decisions or that he may be falling in love again, for instance when you are in the presence of someone you may have a crush on, your head feels full of air or lead.

I watch the patchwork farms Slow fade into the ocean's arms the singer pushes any potentially painful past experience into his mind's horizon.

And from here they can't see me stare The stale taste of recycled air the first line suggests that he can still see the people he's lost, but cant actually talk to them, which could mean he left them before he could get hurt again, or he's seen them again after they left(of course lost could mean dead or simply went away). the last line could suggest that the singer continues to lose people and meet new ones he grows attached to, which is becoming a tiring cycle.

of course this is just my interpretation, but i hope you like it.

My Interpretation