I think the biggest reoccurring theme in this song is the lack of choice that we have as individuals due to things out of our control which is reaffirmed by every chorus.
Each chorus is in agreement with the previous verse even though all the verses they refer to are unpleasant/wrong/undesirable. To me, it seems this is because it already happened/it doesn't matter if we do/don't because, as a species, someone else will.
The first verse alludes to the cultural influences beyond our control (tourists of the dead), the second alludes to the historical forces beyond our control that we can't do anything about (someone already sold out the "secrets of the universe" in a vile manner), and the third verse reflects the uncontrollable factors on the individual level.
To me, the last verse is the most striking (especially if you're familiar with the principles of cognition and neuropsychology). I broke it down like this:
"Toss the map on the ground It isn't accurate anyways" (classic style of modest mouse acknowledging that the system is rigged/corrupted from the start)
The following portion shows the gradual and somewhat involuntary and insidious change as we are forced to grow in our society:
"We've been getting away
We've been getting away
We are strangers to ourselves"
This section alludes to jobs/responsibilities that take our time (and essentially life), things that we never thought we would end up doing:
"We sneak out
Drip by drip
Through paper cuts on our hands
Day after day"
This portion reaffirms that who become is foreign, even to us.
"Nothing's quite the same
We are tourists in our own heads"
I think the biggest reoccurring theme in this song is the lack of choice that we have as individuals due to things out of our control which is reaffirmed by every chorus. Each chorus is in agreement with the previous verse even though all the verses they refer to are unpleasant/wrong/undesirable. To me, it seems this is because it already happened/it doesn't matter if we do/don't because, as a species, someone else will.
The first verse alludes to the cultural influences beyond our control (tourists of the dead), the second alludes to the historical forces beyond our control that we can't do anything about (someone already sold out the "secrets of the universe" in a vile manner), and the third verse reflects the uncontrollable factors on the individual level.
To me, the last verse is the most striking (especially if you're familiar with the principles of cognition and neuropsychology). I broke it down like this:
"Toss the map on the ground It isn't accurate anyways" (classic style of modest mouse acknowledging that the system is rigged/corrupted from the start)
The following portion shows the gradual and somewhat involuntary and insidious change as we are forced to grow in our society:
"We've been getting away We've been getting away We are strangers to ourselves"
This section alludes to jobs/responsibilities that take our time (and essentially life), things that we never thought we would end up doing:
"We sneak out Drip by drip Through paper cuts on our hands Day after day"
This portion reaffirms that who become is foreign, even to us.
"Nothing's quite the same We are tourists in our own heads"