In essence, I believe this song is about how people are living in their own illusions and how we all need to be honest with ourselves.
The first verse implies confusion about life and how Paul "hides behind the shield of his illusion". This, along with the chorus, I think are about how people tend to have a predetermined view of what is right and are oblivious to the negative impacts of their actions.
The chorus could also be about how nothing great is ever accomplished without upsetting some people; flowers need rain, but it also makes them bend, wilt, and fall off.
In the second verse, "The mirror on my wall casts an image dark and small, but I'm not sure at all it's my reflection" I think means that we are not always who we think we are; we must learn to be honest with ourselves about our actions and why we do the things we do.
"I am blinded by the light of god and truth and right" means that what other people tell us is right is not necessarily what is actually right — We must learn that for ourselves.
The third verse, then, is about giving up on all the illusions and facing up to reality. The final line in the third verse makes this clear.
"It's no matter if you're born to play the king or pawn, for the line is thinly drawn 'tween joy and sorrow" I think means that wealth is meaningless. The reality is that anyone can be happy, life is about deciding what to make of what you have been given.
In essence, I believe this song is about how people are living in their own illusions and how we all need to be honest with ourselves.
The first verse implies confusion about life and how Paul "hides behind the shield of his illusion". This, along with the chorus, I think are about how people tend to have a predetermined view of what is right and are oblivious to the negative impacts of their actions.
The chorus could also be about how nothing great is ever accomplished without upsetting some people; flowers need rain, but it also makes them bend, wilt, and fall off.
In the second verse, "The mirror on my wall casts an image dark and small, but I'm not sure at all it's my reflection" I think means that we are not always who we think we are; we must learn to be honest with ourselves about our actions and why we do the things we do.
"I am blinded by the light of god and truth and right" means that what other people tell us is right is not necessarily what is actually right — We must learn that for ourselves.
The third verse, then, is about giving up on all the illusions and facing up to reality. The final line in the third verse makes this clear.
"It's no matter if you're born to play the king or pawn, for the line is thinly drawn 'tween joy and sorrow" I think means that wealth is meaningless. The reality is that anyone can be happy, life is about deciding what to make of what you have been given.