Interpretation 1.)
I think of the song as being the story of someone who is pushed too far by the tensions of life and so goes out to find or cause new problems. Along the way, he rejects societal trends and normalcies, embracing his own identity.
I don't know what the world may need
But I'm sure as hell that is starts with me
And that's a wisdom, I've laughed at
Here he's basically saying that the world is full of problems, but he's self-assured that he's the solution.
I don't know what the world may want
But a good stiff drink it surely don't
So I think I'll go and fix myself a tall one
If the world doesn't need a drink then he's going to get one, because this song is all about how the world sucks, and he's going to change things.
'Cause, what the world needs now
Is a new kind of tension
'Cause the old one just bores me to death
These are some of my favorite lyrics to any song ever. This describes me in high school so well. According to Lowery (and me), out of an apparent cynicism and apathy, the world's issues need not be resolved, but rather be replaced by something newer and exciting. There's no purpose in fixing problems just so they can come back. Instead, make a new kind of tension because the old one has gotten so boring.
'Cause, what the world needs now
Is another folk singer
Like I need a hole in my head
Don't get me wrong, I love folk music, but it's done to death. Lowery wanted to try something new, and he'd rather have a hole in his head than the same old thing we've had for years.
I don't know what the world may need
But a V8 engine is a good start for me
Think I'll drive to find a place, to be surly
Maybe this line is about breaking out and showing everyone who you really are. All of that anger built up over time exploding as the weight of the world becomes too much. Driving to find a place to be surly meaning going out into the world and living fast and dying hard because you're pissed.
I don't know what the world may want
But some words of wisdom could comfort us
Think I'll leave that up to someone wiser
In this case, he acknowledges that he doesn't have an earthly idea for how to change the world, and that job should be left up to someone wiser.
'Cause, what the world needs now
Are some true words of wisdom
Like La la la la la la la la la la
'Cause, what the world needs now
Is another folk singer
Like I need a hole in my head
According to this line, he is the wiser one. Previously he said that some words of wisdom delivered by someone wiser could be beneficial to the world, and now he's the deliverer of these words of wisdom. And all he can say is "La la la la la la la la la la". This makes me think that either the world is in the hands of a real idiot, or this is the way it should be. Instead of worrying about things, just give up and stop caring. Say "La la la..." to all of your problems and get over it.
I don't know what the world may need
And I never grasped your complexities
I'd be happy just to get your attention
He's amazed by the complexities of the world which he can not even begin to fathom and realizes that saving the world is too great an undertaking. He can't even get the people's attention.
I don't know what the world may want
But your long, sweet body lying next
To mine could certainly raise my spirits
In this part, he's literally screwing the world. He gets the world in bed, makes it his own, dominates it, and he finally gets what he wants, but in the process, everything else gets screwed. Of course, he's not literally having inappropriate relations with the Earth, but he's figuratively making a mess out of things.
'Cause what the world needs now
Is a new Frank Sinatra
So I can get you in bed
All that's left to do, it seems, is become one with societal norms in order to become fully integrated into society. If he wants to get the world into bed, he will li need to become like the rest of the world. Therefore, the song is pointless.
Interpretation 2.)
The song is about how he can't get laid.
Good song. I quite like it. I'm terrible at lyric interpretation, but for me, this song was always about how one man gets pushed too far and decides he is going to change the world and look cool while doing it. I used to like to think that man was me. Now the meaning has changed for me. I tend to think that it's more so about realizing you can't do anything so giving up and getting mad. This is my favorite song of all-time. Have a good day.
Interpretation 1.) I think of the song as being the story of someone who is pushed too far by the tensions of life and so goes out to find or cause new problems. Along the way, he rejects societal trends and normalcies, embracing his own identity.
I don't know what the world may need But I'm sure as hell that is starts with me And that's a wisdom, I've laughed at
Here he's basically saying that the world is full of problems, but he's self-assured that he's the solution.
I don't know what the world may want But a good stiff drink it surely don't So I think I'll go and fix myself a tall one
If the world doesn't need a drink then he's going to get one, because this song is all about how the world sucks, and he's going to change things.
'Cause, what the world needs now Is a new kind of tension 'Cause the old one just bores me to death
These are some of my favorite lyrics to any song ever. This describes me in high school so well. According to Lowery (and me), out of an apparent cynicism and apathy, the world's issues need not be resolved, but rather be replaced by something newer and exciting. There's no purpose in fixing problems just so they can come back. Instead, make a new kind of tension because the old one has gotten so boring.
'Cause, what the world needs now Is another folk singer Like I need a hole in my head
Don't get me wrong, I love folk music, but it's done to death. Lowery wanted to try something new, and he'd rather have a hole in his head than the same old thing we've had for years.
I don't know what the world may need But a V8 engine is a good start for me Think I'll drive to find a place, to be surly
Maybe this line is about breaking out and showing everyone who you really are. All of that anger built up over time exploding as the weight of the world becomes too much. Driving to find a place to be surly meaning going out into the world and living fast and dying hard because you're pissed.
I don't know what the world may want But some words of wisdom could comfort us Think I'll leave that up to someone wiser
In this case, he acknowledges that he doesn't have an earthly idea for how to change the world, and that job should be left up to someone wiser.
'Cause, what the world needs now Are some true words of wisdom Like La la la la la la la la la la 'Cause, what the world needs now Is another folk singer Like I need a hole in my head
According to this line, he is the wiser one. Previously he said that some words of wisdom delivered by someone wiser could be beneficial to the world, and now he's the deliverer of these words of wisdom. And all he can say is "La la la la la la la la la la". This makes me think that either the world is in the hands of a real idiot, or this is the way it should be. Instead of worrying about things, just give up and stop caring. Say "La la la..." to all of your problems and get over it.
I don't know what the world may need And I never grasped your complexities I'd be happy just to get your attention
He's amazed by the complexities of the world which he can not even begin to fathom and realizes that saving the world is too great an undertaking. He can't even get the people's attention.
I don't know what the world may want But your long, sweet body lying next To mine could certainly raise my spirits
In this part, he's literally screwing the world. He gets the world in bed, makes it his own, dominates it, and he finally gets what he wants, but in the process, everything else gets screwed. Of course, he's not literally having inappropriate relations with the Earth, but he's figuratively making a mess out of things.
'Cause what the world needs now Is a new Frank Sinatra So I can get you in bed
All that's left to do, it seems, is become one with societal norms in order to become fully integrated into society. If he wants to get the world into bed, he will li need to become like the rest of the world. Therefore, the song is pointless.
Interpretation 2.) The song is about how he can't get laid.
Good song. I quite like it. I'm terrible at lyric interpretation, but for me, this song was always about how one man gets pushed too far and decides he is going to change the world and look cool while doing it. I used to like to think that man was me. Now the meaning has changed for me. I tend to think that it's more so about realizing you can't do anything so giving up and getting mad. This is my favorite song of all-time. Have a good day.