Perfect Symmetry

I really think CogentMuse nailed it, but I would dare to say there is room for another interpretation, which I find very interesting. It is very political and it has sociological and philosophical analysis. For me, the song can also be about how people live distant from each other, drifting apart, thinking only about themselves and being cynical. All this egocentrism would lead us (as individuals and also as political beings) to a state of constant tension, trying to get our desires attended over others. It is also about a false notion of progress, and that we are masked, in a life of appearance. Religion (in some ways, such as extremism) and technology would be some of the agents of this situation. And also about how, deep down, we just want to be happy and need ourselves in order to achieve it.

"I shake through the wreckage for signs of life Scrolling through the paragraphs Clicking through the photographs"

Humanity is in a bad state, evidently. This is the first reference to technology in the song. It shows that we have a digital life: our means to investigate the world are scrolls and clicks.

"I wish I could make sense of what we do Burning down the capitals The wisest of the animals"

We believe we are progressing, that all our efforts to build stuff, our science and technology, distinctively human, are the signs we are going in the right path. We are actually not.

"Who are you? What are you living for? Tooth for tooth, maybe we’ll go one more"

What is your role in this world? What do you do to be someone distinctive, true to yourself? Do you think the criteria we use to determine progress is really accurate? We live in a dog eat dog world, and it might stay that way for some time.

"This life is lived in perfect symmetry What I do, that will be done to me"

(For me, these verses are nearly metaphysical) The thing is: doing stuff just because you or your group/class think is right, without thinking about others, can have serious consequences. Constant war and tension is built up because of this. We have to think about other people.

"Read page after page of analysis Looking for the final score We’re no closer than we were before"

Opinions and analysis are given everywhere, people have an urge to state what's in their minds. However, these are just superficial acts, because nobody listens to the opinion of others. In the end, no consensus is reached, and only arguments are brought up. In this process, people could end up thinking differently and realizing they might be wrong. They don't. As there is no change of thoughts, there is no change of attitudes, and things remain the same. (More references to technology, if you face the pages as online)

"Who are you? What are you fighting for? Holy truth? Brother I choose this mortal life"

Again, the philosophical question of "who are you, where do belong in this world?" (It might imply we have a necessity of acting out to fit in.) When faced with those who seek to discuss and transform society though religion's optics, the singers answers our matters should be solved be ourselves, without trying to apply religious dogmas to other people who might not think accordingly, or have different beliefs.

"(Mortal life) Lived in perfect symmetry What I do, that will be done to me As the needle slips into the run-out groove Love - maybe you’ll feel it too"

While you rely on dogmas and live ruled by something that might not be even real, in the end, life of men is ruled be natural laws, the cause and effect. Love is repeatedly discussed in the media and by our society as a transforming force, and this is considered very cliché. However, once you get out of your shell and look to others, try to put yourself in others' shoes, you start to live in line and create empathy, which is a different form of love and caring and is indeed revolutionary.

"And maybe you’ll find life is unkind And over so soon There is no golden gate There’s no heaven waiting for you"

Again, a request for people to face reality. In the end, a life ruled by ethereal concepts distances people from us, social and political beings. Do not act thinking on promises and dogmas: you will be let down.

"Oh boy you ought to leave this town Get out while you can the meter’s running down The voices in the streets you love Everything is better when you hear that sound"

If you want to fix things, it's better to rethink your actions. Life is short, and reaching out to people can make everything better. A new dimension of life is discovered, in which true connections fill the void of the superficial, current lifestyle.

"Spineless dreamers hide in churches Pieces of pieces of rush hour buses I dream in emails, worn-out phrases Mile after mile of just empty pages"

People tend to search what brings them comfort, and it might distance then from what is being able to live socially. In religion, they gather up, in a closed group, and live more with abstract and ethereal concepts then with humanity, getting far from what should be democracy and tolerance. In technology, they are far from each other, even though thinking they are connecting. Internet and online spaces (as in common to churches, according to the song), as a whole, contain lots and lots of empty thoughts, people following others without critical sense. The rush hour buses are an image to lots of people together, however apart: in buses and cars, the agglomeration is big, but it doesn't mean real interaction is made.

"Wrap yourself around me Wrap yourself around me"

My favorite part of the song. Very emotional and powerful, almost a plead. I need you, as much you need me. We can work things out if we do it together. Human beings need each other, biologically, physically. We walk together to surpass the bumps and obstacles found in these contemporary times.

"As the needle slips into the run-out groove Maybe you’ll feel it too Maybe you’ll feel it too"

Who knows what time you might have an epiphany, after listening people say it over and over again. There is the hope you realize what's happening and act in order to make life better.

This is my favorite song lyrically. I don't know if I'm tripping with my analysis, but this song can indeed take us very far, and these multiple meanings enchant me. I find it amazing, even though I don't completely agree with the statement on religious beliefs.