I’m convinced this song is one hundred percent about denial. Specifically the denial that the human race has for history repeating itself. And this song is packed with metaphor and references.
The dark age signifying a deliberate state of denial.
The narrator keeps referencing waking up out of bed which I take as waking up to what is really happening, eyes open wide, horrified at what is going on. I think the narrator has finally realized they have been in denial and is addressing the rest of us listeners to not be surprised when they “wake up” and see it too.
Burn the page references a saying: if you can’t turn the page, burn the book. Meaning sometimes it is beyond saving just tear it all down and start anew. (Society, history, government, the human race..)
The line about the stones on the stage reminds me of the The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. The people keep throwing stones and history keeps repeating itself and for what? Everyone needs to wake up! Shift paradigms. When they step out to the outside looking in and see what they have been doing, they’re horrified. They have been to blame all along . We’re all to blame, we’re all a part of it. We all play a role in the denial.
All of the past events and signs point to the same outcomes but nothing changes because people are more comfortable living in a state of denial. Maybe the narrator is feeling that feeling of helplessness to it all which make him just want to give up. The song references suicide or possibly the death of the “dark age” so to speak. A new beginning? He is giddy knowing that it’s coming, people are beginning to wake up.
The end about the police and his friends is a modern day reference to the denial going on in our society. He is speaking directly to us saying “hey my friends and I are awake! We see what’s happening” they are heading to the bridge with their stones. A duel metaphor for suicide by jumping off the bridge, sinking and drowning and also for taking that leap, letting go, waking up.
Carvings on the face- wrinkles, old age, older generations being in denial (they say they find it hard to see what’s written on the wall even tho history always repeats itself ) their “engines failed again” that's the outcome of disguising the truth, you can never move forward.
The feelings rot one wink at a time- a wink of “don’t worry everything is great! wink wink” but knowing it’s not
Forgiving who you are and what you stand to gain- talking to society
Doesn’t go away even if you hide- self explanatory, just because your eyes are closed to it doesn’t mean it’s not happening
I grieve in stereo the stereo sounds strange - his thoughts and memories and beliefs have betrayed him and the things that were once comforting and familiar are now all wrong, strange, now that his eyes are open.
I’m convinced this song is one hundred percent about denial. Specifically the denial that the human race has for history repeating itself. And this song is packed with metaphor and references.
The dark age signifying a deliberate state of denial.
The narrator keeps referencing waking up out of bed which I take as waking up to what is really happening, eyes open wide, horrified at what is going on. I think the narrator has finally realized they have been in denial and is addressing the rest of us listeners to not be surprised when they “wake up” and see it too.
Burn the page references a saying: if you can’t turn the page, burn the book. Meaning sometimes it is beyond saving just tear it all down and start anew. (Society, history, government, the human race..)
The line about the stones on the stage reminds me of the The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. The people keep throwing stones and history keeps repeating itself and for what? Everyone needs to wake up! Shift paradigms. When they step out to the outside looking in and see what they have been doing, they’re horrified. They have been to blame all along . We’re all to blame, we’re all a part of it. We all play a role in the denial.
All of the past events and signs point to the same outcomes but nothing changes because people are more comfortable living in a state of denial. Maybe the narrator is feeling that feeling of helplessness to it all which make him just want to give up. The song references suicide or possibly the death of the “dark age” so to speak. A new beginning? He is giddy knowing that it’s coming, people are beginning to wake up.
The end about the police and his friends is a modern day reference to the denial going on in our society. He is speaking directly to us saying “hey my friends and I are awake! We see what’s happening” they are heading to the bridge with their stones. A duel metaphor for suicide by jumping off the bridge, sinking and drowning and also for taking that leap, letting go, waking up.
Carvings on the face- wrinkles, old age, older generations being in denial (they say they find it hard to see what’s written on the wall even tho history always repeats itself ) their “engines failed again” that's the outcome of disguising the truth, you can never move forward.
The feelings rot one wink at a time- a wink of “don’t worry everything is great! wink wink” but knowing it’s not
Forgiving who you are and what you stand to gain- talking to society
Doesn’t go away even if you hide- self explanatory, just because your eyes are closed to it doesn’t mean it’s not happening
I grieve in stereo the stereo sounds strange - his thoughts and memories and beliefs have betrayed him and the things that were once comforting and familiar are now all wrong, strange, now that his eyes are open.
Amazing lyrics, amazing song