The references to being laid out on a “decorated dish” displayed among “the rare and precious jewels that are only made of paste” suggests the song is about the ironies of fame. He wants to vanish, to be anonymous and therefore a normal part of humanity. Fame isolates - places one on display case among the other counterfeit gems, beautiful, but inauthentic. For a true artist, this must be a source of tremendous conflict. To be committed to telling the truth, only to be put on display as a glorified fiction. Like a “lost dog” he is unable to read the sign post with directions back to where he is himself again. The awful truth is the reality of his frail humanity in contrast with his public image. The rest he seeks is that of being anonymous. The tremendous depth of feeling he expresses in this song, suggests he may also be seeking the “rest” of oblivion.
The references to being laid out on a “decorated dish” displayed among “the rare and precious jewels that are only made of paste” suggests the song is about the ironies of fame. He wants to vanish, to be anonymous and therefore a normal part of humanity. Fame isolates - places one on display case among the other counterfeit gems, beautiful, but inauthentic. For a true artist, this must be a source of tremendous conflict. To be committed to telling the truth, only to be put on display as a glorified fiction. Like a “lost dog” he is unable to read the sign post with directions back to where he is himself again. The awful truth is the reality of his frail humanity in contrast with his public image. The rest he seeks is that of being anonymous. The tremendous depth of feeling he expresses in this song, suggests he may also be seeking the “rest” of oblivion.