I think it is one man, speaking about his own life and how he has everything that an American man in his 30's is supposed to want and yet he feels like he struggles everyday to keep it all together. He is comparing himself to his friend from back in high school who made all of the wrong decisions, is viewed as failure at life by society in general, and basically has nothing. The lyrics detail the differences in their lives and lifestyles and similarities in the internal struggles that they face each day regardless of their respective lots in life.
What appears to be a character story on the surface is actually a commentary on the life of typical American men in their 30's.
I think it is one man, speaking about his own life and how he has everything that an American man in his 30's is supposed to want and yet he feels like he struggles everyday to keep it all together. He is comparing himself to his friend from back in high school who made all of the wrong decisions, is viewed as failure at life by society in general, and basically has nothing. The lyrics detail the differences in their lives and lifestyles and similarities in the internal struggles that they face each day regardless of their respective lots in life.
What appears to be a character story on the surface is actually a commentary on the life of typical American men in their 30's.