This song for me is about facing one's own mortality, contrasted with the complications of being alive here and now. It takes a bold and conscious change in perspective, i.e. "walking though the windows", to see the big picture of life and death.
Going through daily life is a graceless endeavor by definition, and Matt Berninger expresses his frustration and sentiments related to the nagging urge to change this, as well as the unpleasantness of having to accept certain things.
"I'm trying, but I'm graceless
Don't have the sunny side to face this
I am invisible and weightless
You can't imagine how I hate this"
The trick to set oneself free is a bold change of perspective, going off the beaten track, "through the glass" and not the door, and perhaps a little madness:
"I'm trying, but I'm gone
Through the glass again
Just come and find me
God loves everybody, don't remind me
I took the medicine and I went missing"
Wherever he is in life, mentally and emotionally, he knows God still loves him, and sounds happy and confident, with a deeper understanding of life. "Now I know what dying means", he utters as he reaches an epiphany about his own mortality.
"It's the side effects that save us" is yet another insight about life, about how the unintended or the negative sometimes end up being essential and miraculous.
"Put the flowers you find in a vase" is a plea to value and savor the beauty of being alive, to seize and enjoy the moment. Yet, he emphasizes that to be able to truly reach that understanding one has to let go of worldly concerns, by uttering: "If you're dead in the mind it will brighten the place".
However no matter how enlightened one might feel after reaching an epiphany about life and death, it doesn't come that naturally, nor is it easy. "There's a science to walking through windows", he repeats, referring to breaking free and choosing one's own path, in this case the windows. This is especially hard to achieve all alone, hence he adds "...without you" in the final line. A sincere confession that bares his soul as just another lonely human being who ultimately needs someone to share this insight to be able to truly feel and enjoy it...
Your first sentence could be a great summation of this entire album. It is very existential.
The only part I would differ with you on is when you say "he knows God still loves him."
When he says "God loves everybody, don't remind me", I think he's saying that people keep trying to comfort him by telling him about religion, but he doesn't believe, hence being "Graceless".
Your first sentence could be a great summation of this entire album. It is very existential.
The only part I would differ with you on is when you say "he knows God still loves him."
When he says "God loves everybody, don't remind me", I think he's saying that people keep trying to comfort him by telling him about religion, but he doesn't believe, hence being "Graceless".
This song for me is about facing one's own mortality, contrasted with the complications of being alive here and now. It takes a bold and conscious change in perspective, i.e. "walking though the windows", to see the big picture of life and death.
Going through daily life is a graceless endeavor by definition, and Matt Berninger expresses his frustration and sentiments related to the nagging urge to change this, as well as the unpleasantness of having to accept certain things.
"I'm trying, but I'm graceless Don't have the sunny side to face this I am invisible and weightless You can't imagine how I hate this"
The trick to set oneself free is a bold change of perspective, going off the beaten track, "through the glass" and not the door, and perhaps a little madness:
"I'm trying, but I'm gone Through the glass again Just come and find me God loves everybody, don't remind me I took the medicine and I went missing"
Wherever he is in life, mentally and emotionally, he knows God still loves him, and sounds happy and confident, with a deeper understanding of life. "Now I know what dying means", he utters as he reaches an epiphany about his own mortality.
"It's the side effects that save us" is yet another insight about life, about how the unintended or the negative sometimes end up being essential and miraculous.
"Put the flowers you find in a vase" is a plea to value and savor the beauty of being alive, to seize and enjoy the moment. Yet, he emphasizes that to be able to truly reach that understanding one has to let go of worldly concerns, by uttering: "If you're dead in the mind it will brighten the place".
However no matter how enlightened one might feel after reaching an epiphany about life and death, it doesn't come that naturally, nor is it easy. "There's a science to walking through windows", he repeats, referring to breaking free and choosing one's own path, in this case the windows. This is especially hard to achieve all alone, hence he adds "...without you" in the final line. A sincere confession that bares his soul as just another lonely human being who ultimately needs someone to share this insight to be able to truly feel and enjoy it...
I completely agree with your interpretation! Love the way you analysed and explored it :)
I completely agree with your interpretation! Love the way you analysed and explored it :)
I couldn't agree more. I've gotta say you put that all out so beautifully. Thank you for sharing your feelings on this
I couldn't agree more. I've gotta say you put that all out so beautifully. Thank you for sharing your feelings on this
Your first sentence could be a great summation of this entire album. It is very existential. The only part I would differ with you on is when you say "he knows God still loves him." When he says "God loves everybody, don't remind me", I think he's saying that people keep trying to comfort him by telling him about religion, but he doesn't believe, hence being "Graceless".
Your first sentence could be a great summation of this entire album. It is very existential. The only part I would differ with you on is when you say "he knows God still loves him." When he says "God loves everybody, don't remind me", I think he's saying that people keep trying to comfort him by telling him about religion, but he doesn't believe, hence being "Graceless".