I think this song is about someone who just wants to be normal and average. Its a song about coming into adulthood and the pressure to be somebody. There is often a pressure for youth to come out of school, get a great job, make big money, do great things, etc. This song is about wanted to just be average for while.
When I listen to this song I picture a high school senior talking with a guidance counselor or parents about the future. Parent and child talking about the career track the child should head down, the responsibilities ahead. I see the parents reminding the child that a good job is a must for success, having the American dream, etc. A imagine a child that is not ready for that yet, it is not something they want. They want the parent to understand what they want and deserve at this point in their life.
Let me go
I don't wanna be your hero
I don't wanna be a big man
Just wanna fight like everyone else
--- He is saying that he wants to be who he wants. He is asking the person that is pressuring him to be more (maybe a parents, teacher, etc) to let him go be his own man. He doesn't want to a responsible adult right now in a high powered life of job. He just wants to be carefree for a bit. He doesn't want to be a hero or a big man (ie - responsible, settled down, etc).
Your masquerade
I don't wanna be a part of your parade
Everyone deserves a chance to
Walk with everyone else
--- He doesn't want to conform to what others think he should. He is talking about a masquerade, or hiding who he really is, he does not want that. The listener is given the image of a parade, which is usually a group of people walking in a line, from point A to B (can be compared to how adult life can sometimes be - wake up, kids to school, work, pick kids up, grocery store, home again, make dinner, etc). He wants that laid back life for now. He doesn't want to put on a suit and tie(masquerader), and "parade" off to work and through life. He is saying that everyone should have the right to "walk with everyone else" for be like everyone else is they choose.
While holding down
A job to keep my girl around
And maybe buy me some new strings
And her and I out on the weekend
--- He wants a job that pays enough to get him and his girlfriend out on the weekends, and afford him some new guitar strings if he needs them. He wants the average lazy job, enough to get by.
And we can whisper things
Secrets from my American dreams
Baby needs some protection
But I'm a kid like everyone else
--- He has his own "American dream". At the moment it is not about a high paying powerful job, its something simpler. He is not ready to be an adult yet, he is still holding onto the carefree nature of childhood.
I think this song is about someone who just wants to be normal and average. Its a song about coming into adulthood and the pressure to be somebody. There is often a pressure for youth to come out of school, get a great job, make big money, do great things, etc. This song is about wanted to just be average for while.
When I listen to this song I picture a high school senior talking with a guidance counselor or parents about the future. Parent and child talking about the career track the child should head down, the responsibilities ahead. I see the parents reminding the child that a good job is a must for success, having the American dream, etc. A imagine a child that is not ready for that yet, it is not something they want. They want the parent to understand what they want and deserve at this point in their life.
Let me go I don't wanna be your hero I don't wanna be a big man Just wanna fight like everyone else --- He is saying that he wants to be who he wants. He is asking the person that is pressuring him to be more (maybe a parents, teacher, etc) to let him go be his own man. He doesn't want to a responsible adult right now in a high powered life of job. He just wants to be carefree for a bit. He doesn't want to be a hero or a big man (ie - responsible, settled down, etc).
Your masquerade I don't wanna be a part of your parade Everyone deserves a chance to Walk with everyone else --- He doesn't want to conform to what others think he should. He is talking about a masquerade, or hiding who he really is, he does not want that. The listener is given the image of a parade, which is usually a group of people walking in a line, from point A to B (can be compared to how adult life can sometimes be - wake up, kids to school, work, pick kids up, grocery store, home again, make dinner, etc). He wants that laid back life for now. He doesn't want to put on a suit and tie(masquerader), and "parade" off to work and through life. He is saying that everyone should have the right to "walk with everyone else" for be like everyone else is they choose.
While holding down A job to keep my girl around And maybe buy me some new strings And her and I out on the weekend --- He wants a job that pays enough to get him and his girlfriend out on the weekends, and afford him some new guitar strings if he needs them. He wants the average lazy job, enough to get by.
And we can whisper things Secrets from my American dreams Baby needs some protection But I'm a kid like everyone else --- He has his own "American dream". At the moment it is not about a high paying powerful job, its something simpler. He is not ready to be an adult yet, he is still holding onto the carefree nature of childhood.