As many people have hit on, this song seems to be all about nostalgia.
The point of view strikes me as a person who has the epiphany that he is closer to the end than the beginning (which might prompt the beginning of a mid life crisis) of his life. I don't think the man is excessively rich, but according to his "friend and family" he is well off. Regardless of any accomplishments, he has been waiting for something (or someone) and, while many seem to think this song is optimistic, I think that the statement that "this is the day your life will surely change" is filled with facetiousness.
He has finally realized, which is why the lack of sleep, that that time is past and that it's not going to happen. He is not young anymore and his dream(s) are going to remain just that. This could be a possible reference to the plane. He can see what it is (in his mind), but it is too far away to actually touch it.
I find the placement of this track to on the album, just after 'I've been Waiting for Tomorrow (All of My Life)' to be very telling. In that track he was in young adulthood and waiting for life to start and for this thing to happen. It was always going to happen tomorrow. In this song that thing has not yet happened and he realizes that tomorrow is now yesterday.
As for the upbeat tune of the song, I think it is a purposeful counterpoint to the depressing nature of the lyrics. (e.g. 'Girlfriend in a Coma' by the Smiths.)
As many people have hit on, this song seems to be all about nostalgia.
The point of view strikes me as a person who has the epiphany that he is closer to the end than the beginning (which might prompt the beginning of a mid life crisis) of his life. I don't think the man is excessively rich, but according to his "friend and family" he is well off. Regardless of any accomplishments, he has been waiting for something (or someone) and, while many seem to think this song is optimistic, I think that the statement that "this is the day your life will surely change" is filled with facetiousness.
He has finally realized, which is why the lack of sleep, that that time is past and that it's not going to happen. He is not young anymore and his dream(s) are going to remain just that. This could be a possible reference to the plane. He can see what it is (in his mind), but it is too far away to actually touch it.
I find the placement of this track to on the album, just after 'I've been Waiting for Tomorrow (All of My Life)' to be very telling. In that track he was in young adulthood and waiting for life to start and for this thing to happen. It was always going to happen tomorrow. In this song that thing has not yet happened and he realizes that tomorrow is now yesterday.
As for the upbeat tune of the song, I think it is a purposeful counterpoint to the depressing nature of the lyrics. (e.g. 'Girlfriend in a Coma' by the Smiths.)