Lyric discussion by RGLASSEL 

Cover art for Hourglass lyrics by A Perfect Circle

A red flag will always be a red flag, but the persons who can recognize such warnings are dying out (getting silenced). The Millenials (cosplaying ”Tokyo kitty”) think they are free (Swallow) and all is beautiful (Rose), but they are just birds in a cage (Canary). Not fully capable to understand. They need help.

Can you recogize an apparent red flag? Can you recognize the effects by a trickle-down economy system happening right now. (Trickle down right in front of you”.)

(It's a hard burden on the younger generations, but the question is directed at you, the listener, both the older and the younger generation.)

By understanding this, can you (the listener) feel an odd feeling that something is wrong (neck hairs prickle) - aren't you feeling just a little bit worried? - as the people who recognize such red flags are getting silenced (verbally barbecued/grilled) and are soon all gone. This economy system cannot be contained and controlled (within the hourglass), it will crash (hourglass smashed). The countdown has already begun to when this will get out of control. The loss of control has not fully happened yet, but is dangerously close. (The countdown at this point ends at two.)

The economical elite is part of the problem. (Aristocrats). Historically political systems based on a prickle-down economy system (Timocrats) is problematic. The Oligarch is a novel example of such problem. Career seeking polititians are now part of the same problem (Repoblocrats).

You cannot place your hope on that this economical system can be contained and controlled (no hope left in the hourglass), it will ultimately brake down into an Plutocracy. (A political system govern by the wealthy and not the elected - by the people for the people - thus the warning, thus importance of recognizing red flags).

This message needs to be shouted out as a new distress code over radio (a ten-niner-eight), but the countdown will continue. (The countdown still ends at two). But if shouted out enough times, and people start to engage, it will make a change. At the end, the countdown ends at three. Bringing hope.

My Interpretation