This is my interpretation after listening to it only a few times (love the song so I'll be doing it a lot more after this.)
But from my perspective, the song is singing about the insignificance of our choices and the misfortune that befalls us all.
The first scenario provided is about a young woman who left home for selfish reasons causing her mother to become depressed and easily taken advantage of by those around her. She inevitably dies, and at her funeral, the people who came only remember when she became depressed and the chances they all had to help her out but decided not to. The daughter understands how they're feeling and says it's alright, because she finally understands how life works.
The second scenario is about a young soldier who goes to fight for a worthless cause and becomes disfigured. Rewarded with useless trinkets and sent home, eventually dying. Because of his ties with the army, he'll be blamed for the slaughter of many regardless of the outcome of the war. Whether the cause was good or not, he'll always be one of the many who were blamed for the bloodshed.
These two scenarios are comparisons. The daughter left to be happy, causing her Mother to become depressed, inevitably dying an unhappy and lonely woman. The young man went to war, leaving everything behind. Soon after, he becomes disfigured due to the enemy's weapons and is sent back home with trinkets symbolizing his usefulness. He inevitably dies, blamed for the deaths of many.
They both speak about the deaths caused by another; one by the young woman, and many by the young man. Both are regarded the same way to the public as well.
"'Cause in the end it's all the same"
This part speaks about the misfortune of the young woman who lost her mother as well as the young man who became disfigured. These tragedies are as awful as the ones they caused.
"If I only had a dollar
For every horror that befalls my fellow man
I'd never work another hour
But I'd grow sour from the guilt and bitterness "
It's pretty straightforward here: Again, from my perspective, they're saying that misfortunes happen everywhere to everyone constantly. If you dwell on them all, you'll become disconsolate towards humanity as a whole and resentful towards everybody around you.
Instead, it speaks about how things are out of our control in life and to cope with them any way you know how, then begs the question on how you'd react when you're facing such tragic events.
"Your day will come"
Indeed it will.
Again, this is only my superficial interpretation of this amazing song. It's probably way off-base, but either way, the song itself is awesome and easily one of the best Streetlight Manifesto songs to date.
This is my interpretation after listening to it only a few times (love the song so I'll be doing it a lot more after this.)
But from my perspective, the song is singing about the insignificance of our choices and the misfortune that befalls us all.
The first scenario provided is about a young woman who left home for selfish reasons causing her mother to become depressed and easily taken advantage of by those around her. She inevitably dies, and at her funeral, the people who came only remember when she became depressed and the chances they all had to help her out but decided not to. The daughter understands how they're feeling and says it's alright, because she finally understands how life works.
The second scenario is about a young soldier who goes to fight for a worthless cause and becomes disfigured. Rewarded with useless trinkets and sent home, eventually dying. Because of his ties with the army, he'll be blamed for the slaughter of many regardless of the outcome of the war. Whether the cause was good or not, he'll always be one of the many who were blamed for the bloodshed.
These two scenarios are comparisons. The daughter left to be happy, causing her Mother to become depressed, inevitably dying an unhappy and lonely woman. The young man went to war, leaving everything behind. Soon after, he becomes disfigured due to the enemy's weapons and is sent back home with trinkets symbolizing his usefulness. He inevitably dies, blamed for the deaths of many.
They both speak about the deaths caused by another; one by the young woman, and many by the young man. Both are regarded the same way to the public as well.
"'Cause in the end it's all the same"
This part speaks about the misfortune of the young woman who lost her mother as well as the young man who became disfigured. These tragedies are as awful as the ones they caused.
"If I only had a dollar For every horror that befalls my fellow man I'd never work another hour But I'd grow sour from the guilt and bitterness "
It's pretty straightforward here: Again, from my perspective, they're saying that misfortunes happen everywhere to everyone constantly. If you dwell on them all, you'll become disconsolate towards humanity as a whole and resentful towards everybody around you.
Instead, it speaks about how things are out of our control in life and to cope with them any way you know how, then begs the question on how you'd react when you're facing such tragic events.
"Your day will come"
Indeed it will.
Again, this is only my superficial interpretation of this amazing song. It's probably way off-base, but either way, the song itself is awesome and easily one of the best Streetlight Manifesto songs to date.
As always, fuck Victory Records.