The song is about a small town which used to be full of life, with lots of happy young people coming to the town and bringing vibrancy and excitement ("brightness") to the town with their youthful free spirits, reminding the older people (The Poet) of their own happy youth. Now all of the young people have grown old and are no longer happy and free, causing the town to become quiet and dark. The singer misses the old "bright" days, and takes it upon themselves to regain happiness and freedom, becoming "bright" again.
The song is about a small town which used to be full of life, with lots of happy young people coming to the town and bringing vibrancy and excitement ("brightness") to the town with their youthful free spirits, reminding the older people (The Poet) of their own happy youth. Now all of the young people have grown old and are no longer happy and free, causing the town to become quiet and dark. The singer misses the old "bright" days, and takes it upon themselves to regain happiness and freedom, becoming "bright" again.