Okay, I'll admit that I haven't read all 90 interpretations, but from what I've read, I think y'all are missing the mark. I think this is a song about faith and hope (with, yes, religious overtones), and I >think< it's meant to have a twist ending. It's maybe a bit too subtle, though.
From the start, the song introduces a third character, the "you" who he is addressing. In the first verse, that person is clearly facing a difficult and important challenge. "They all depend on you." And you already know how this will end. And we're thinking, oh yeah, we know, this is going to end badly. Right?
The second verse tells me this person has been through a lot! "All the loved ones gone," and "in your soul they poked a million holes." And then they're off. And again, we're thinking, yes, we know how this will end.
But in the third verse, everything turns up roses! "Just ask and you'll receive beyond your wildest dreams." And "you," this mysterious "you," already knows how this will end. And this is where I think it's meant to be a twist. You see, right from the start, "you" knew how it would end, that is, that it would turn out fine. We discover that we're the cynical ones, being negative from the start.
Now, if this interpretation is correct, I think it could've been made clearer. As simple as making the last line "And you already KNEW how this would end," maybe. But perhaps Nick prefers to be a bit enigmatic.
Okay, I'll admit that I haven't read all 90 interpretations, but from what I've read, I think y'all are missing the mark. I think this is a song about faith and hope (with, yes, religious overtones), and I >think< it's meant to have a twist ending. It's maybe a bit too subtle, though.
From the start, the song introduces a third character, the "you" who he is addressing. In the first verse, that person is clearly facing a difficult and important challenge. "They all depend on you." And you already know how this will end. And we're thinking, oh yeah, we know, this is going to end badly. Right?
The second verse tells me this person has been through a lot! "All the loved ones gone," and "in your soul they poked a million holes." And then they're off. And again, we're thinking, yes, we know how this will end.
But in the third verse, everything turns up roses! "Just ask and you'll receive beyond your wildest dreams." And "you," this mysterious "you," already knows how this will end. And this is where I think it's meant to be a twist. You see, right from the start, "you" knew how it would end, that is, that it would turn out fine. We discover that we're the cynical ones, being negative from the start.
Now, if this interpretation is correct, I think it could've been made clearer. As simple as making the last line "And you already KNEW how this would end," maybe. But perhaps Nick prefers to be a bit enigmatic.