Seems to be about someone who's hit the big time, aka became rich (owns a nice car) and maybe famous, but who had to pay for it with something impalpable that was dear to him ("the least I had to lose from..." might describe the thing as being impossible to buy, and "...is the most I seem to care" meaning his fondness for it). The abstract thing he is now missing he calls a "dream", like in the lines "a dream that got cremated" or "a dream that walked away." The narrator says that all the riches he has will be worth nothing when he dies and arrives at Heaven's Gate (when the Lord asks him "what I got to show, besides the dust in my pockets"), implying that, in turn, the dream he's lost would've still been worth something after his death.
Someone already pointed out that the "Lord" and "Mercedes Benz" are a clear reference to Janis Joplin's 'Mercedes Benz,' which deals with wishing for material things.
The music is heavily based on the Rolling Stones' "Torn and Frayed" from their 'Exile on Main St.' The chord progression is almost the same, as are the flourishes on the chords (plus the vocals, tempo, piano &acoustic guitar are also very reminiscent of the song and the Stones' style in general.).
Seems to be about someone who's hit the big time, aka became rich (owns a nice car) and maybe famous, but who had to pay for it with something impalpable that was dear to him ("the least I had to lose from..." might describe the thing as being impossible to buy, and "...is the most I seem to care" meaning his fondness for it). The abstract thing he is now missing he calls a "dream", like in the lines "a dream that got cremated" or "a dream that walked away." The narrator says that all the riches he has will be worth nothing when he dies and arrives at Heaven's Gate (when the Lord asks him "what I got to show, besides the dust in my pockets"), implying that, in turn, the dream he's lost would've still been worth something after his death.
Someone already pointed out that the "Lord" and "Mercedes Benz" are a clear reference to Janis Joplin's 'Mercedes Benz,' which deals with wishing for material things.
The music is heavily based on the Rolling Stones' "Torn and Frayed" from their 'Exile on Main St.' The chord progression is almost the same, as are the flourishes on the chords (plus the vocals, tempo, piano &acoustic guitar are also very reminiscent of the song and the Stones' style in general.).