How Far We've Come

Great song - the meaning is pretty clear (if you see the video). It's all about the progress of the human species to this day, and the feeling that it's all coming to a crucial point.

Of course, that won't stop some people from interpreting this song in bizarre ways. Such as the:

"Kurt Cobain fan": This song is about Kurt Cobain! What, isn't EVERY song about Kurt Cobain?

"Overly emotional person": This song is about a relationship! You see, the world is, like, a girl and the sing is a boy and.... .what?

"Jesus guy": This song is about JESUS! Every song is about JESUS! JESUS!!!!!!

Emo/Nilism guy: "This song is about nothing - it's meaningless. I hate it. But I listen to it. I hate everything.

"I like this song guy": I love this song! Whoooo! I love this song! Whooooo! What? What meaning?

global warming and the end of the world. for sure.

I first heard this song right after I heard that an ex was getting married and though it's been a few years, and I've married someone else, I was upset. To me, this song means that relationship with the ex is really over and despite any leftover feelings, I will have to pretend there's nothing between us and that the world is completely different even though technically for me, nothing has really changed. Couldn't stop crying....Now it's over for me and it's over for you...wow - those lyrics really hit home

I don't think this is how Matchbox 20 made the song but it's how it spoke to me when I first heard it. To me, the song is about a person who is starting to doubt if what their life has worked up to be is really worth all they've put into it and the realization that until 'the end' we can't really know for sure if what we've done was worth anything at all. Also, I put 'the end' in inverted commas as it could refer to death or a milestone in a person's life.

'Waking up at the start of the end of the world' - This signifies that the person is aware they are near 'the end', 'but it's feeling just like every other morning before' - despite this it gives no indication of what is to come.

Now don't all pull faces and smirk when I say this but to me in particular I can relate this to the way that I am entering my last year of high-school and am starting to find the way I see everything is completely different from even say, the start of this year and am starting to realize that my 'world is burning to the ground' and all I can do about it is push on until I can 'see how far I've come' as I near 'the end'. I can imagine it as relating to any up-coming major lifestyle change whether it be entering parenthood, old age, a new career field or anything, perhaps even less of a deal than that which has large significance to the person listening to the song. Heh, I suppose I'm applying the 'reader response theory' here even though it's a song not a book but it still sort of works.

Its about looking at your life and seeing everything you have done....having this feeling like everything is crashing down....u can also see it as the POV of a relationship, reaching to a point were is certain that its almost over and thinking abot your time with that person and how its going to be now....that person is your world and now is burning to the ground. Awesome song....can't wait for the new cd!!!

I love this song! I'm just so glad they're making new music. I definitely agree with ieatworld, and the song meaning could be formed to anyone's situation.

it's just a reflection of your life so far...what you've accomplished and whether or not you're doin any good.

i think this song is one of those that will mean something different to every person.

I think it is about a guy who suddenly realizes that life ends, and he's thinking about everything he's done over his lifetime. whether or not he's happy about it is something else.

It reminds me to always look back at what i did with my life and see what it took to get here.

These lyrics are all wrong. Here are the right ones:

I'm waking up at the start of the end of the world, but it's feeling just like every other morning before. Now I wonder what my life is going to mean if it's gone. The cars are moving, like, a half a mile an hour and I started staring at the passengers who're waving goodbye. Can you tell me what was ever really special about me all this time? But I believe the world is burning to the ground. Oh well, I guess we're gonna find out. Let's see how far we've come. Let's see how far we've come. Well I believe it all is coming to an end. Oh well, I guess we're gonna pretend. Let's see how far we've come. Let's see how far we've come. I think it turned ten o' clock, but I don't really know. Then I can't remember caring for an hour or so. Started crying and I couldn't stop myself. I started running, but there's nowhere to run to. I sat down on the street and took a look at myself, said, "Where you going, man? You know the world is headed for Hell. Say your goodbyes if you've got someone you can say goodbye to." I believe the world is burning to the ground. Oh well, I guess we're gonna find out. Let's see how far we've come. Let's see how far we've come. Well I believe it all is coming to an end. Oh well, I guess we're gonna pretend. Let's see how far we've come. Let's see how far we've come. It's gone, gone, baby, it's all gone. There is no one on the corner and there's no one at home. It was cool, cool, it was just all cool. Now it's over for me and it's over for you. Well, it's gone, gone, baby, it's all gone. There is no one on the corner and there's no one at home. Well, it was cool, cool, it was just all cool. Now it's over for me and it's over for you. But I believe the world is burning to the ground. Oh well, I guess we're gonna find out. Let's see how far we've come. Let's see how far we've come. Well I believe it all is coming to an end. Oh well, I guess we're gonna pretend. Let's see how far we've come. Let's see how far we've come. Let's see how far we've come. Let's see how far we've come. Let's see how far we've come. Let's see how far we've come. Let's see how far we've come. Let's see how far we've come. Let's see how far we've come.

Yeah, it's great and all that they're making new stuff, but I miss their old music.