I think the timeline is broader. "All the way from where we came" could indicate European migration. "Built a mansion in a day" sounds like the quick rise of America/Canada through the industrial revolution. "Distant lightning, thunder claps; Watched our neighbor's house collapse;
Looked the other way" - The growth wasn't all good and pure, slavery, child labor, the civil war, etc. "And then the storm was overhead; All the oceans boiled and rivers bled; We auctioned off our memories" - World war I and the great depression. We truly considered ourselves Americans now, at war with some of the countries we originated from, auctioning off our memories, or auctioning due to the great depression.
Pushed away I'm pulled toward
A comedown of revolving doors
Fate, bad karma, yin and yang, revolving doors indicates what goes around eventually comes back around.
"But then the storm returned for more" - Probably the great recession or the next depression about to arrive (financially and environmentally like the great depression was) due to our haphazard use of resources and greed-based financial systems. The songwriters (Jimmy and Emily) want this to happen, to finally get past the time we are in now so that a better system that respects resources and people can be created.
I think the timeline is broader. "All the way from where we came" could indicate European migration. "Built a mansion in a day" sounds like the quick rise of America/Canada through the industrial revolution. "Distant lightning, thunder claps; Watched our neighbor's house collapse; Looked the other way" - The growth wasn't all good and pure, slavery, child labor, the civil war, etc. "And then the storm was overhead; All the oceans boiled and rivers bled; We auctioned off our memories" - World war I and the great depression. We truly considered ourselves Americans now, at war with some of the countries we originated from, auctioning off our memories, or auctioning due to the great depression.
Pushed away I'm pulled toward A comedown of revolving doors
"But then the storm returned for more" - Probably the great recession or the next depression about to arrive (financially and environmentally like the great depression was) due to our haphazard use of resources and greed-based financial systems. The songwriters (Jimmy and Emily) want this to happen, to finally get past the time we are in now so that a better system that respects resources and people can be created.
One of their best songs, without a doubt.