The previous comment about war refugees is not without merit. But I think the meaning of this song goes deeper - and broader - than that. I think this song is about the search for meaning in life.
Sting himself had this to say:
“It’s about the obsession of a writer who every morning faces a blank page and he wonders what on earth he’s going to fill it with.
The analogy I use is of somebody hunting in the snow. You’re never quite sure whether anything is there or not.
So, you’re looking for a road, a pathway, a character, a muse, a romantic muse, philosophical muse, a spiritual muse, a story, anything. But you’re not guaranteed to find it. So it’s about that obsession."
That comment fits with my interpretation of the song as a search for meaning in life, whether that meaning is God, or love, or a personal philosophy. I think it could certainly apply to war refugees. But I think it's universal enough that it could apply to anyone looking for meaning in a sometimes meaningless-seeming world.
@mark167835 Your on the right track! I would add some kind of search for an idealized form, whether material or immaterial, but definitely something involving passion and love. @SillyBunny, I think your interpretation is way too specific and there is no evidence of the immigration crisis in the song. However, your interpretation is deeply moving.
@mark167835 Your on the right track! I would add some kind of search for an idealized form, whether material or immaterial, but definitely something involving passion and love. @SillyBunny, I think your interpretation is way too specific and there is no evidence of the immigration crisis in the song. However, your interpretation is deeply moving.
The previous comment about war refugees is not without merit. But I think the meaning of this song goes deeper - and broader - than that. I think this song is about the search for meaning in life.
Sting himself had this to say:
“It’s about the obsession of a writer who every morning faces a blank page and he wonders what on earth he’s going to fill it with.
The analogy I use is of somebody hunting in the snow. You’re never quite sure whether anything is there or not.
So, you’re looking for a road, a pathway, a character, a muse, a romantic muse, philosophical muse, a spiritual muse, a story, anything. But you’re not guaranteed to find it. So it’s about that obsession."
That comment fits with my interpretation of the song as a search for meaning in life, whether that meaning is God, or love, or a personal philosophy. I think it could certainly apply to war refugees. But I think it's universal enough that it could apply to anyone looking for meaning in a sometimes meaningless-seeming world.
@mark167835 Your on the right track! I would add some kind of search for an idealized form, whether material or immaterial, but definitely something involving passion and love. @SillyBunny, I think your interpretation is way too specific and there is no evidence of the immigration crisis in the song. However, your interpretation is deeply moving.
@mark167835 Your on the right track! I would add some kind of search for an idealized form, whether material or immaterial, but definitely something involving passion and love. @SillyBunny, I think your interpretation is way too specific and there is no evidence of the immigration crisis in the song. However, your interpretation is deeply moving.