I always thought this song has something to do with the conflicting religions of himself and a girlfriend, who perhaps is Jewish? I was thinking that maybe the were an item until the contrasting beliefs got in the way.

I got this idea because it mentions "the restless heart, the promised land" and I think this means his heart was colliding with her religion, thats where I got the Jewish link from, with Israel being the "promised land".

He also mentions "The Chosen one" which people, mainly christians, believe to be Jesus, and the belief of this is the main difference of Christianity and Judaism.

He then goes onto saying "Slipping in my faith", which perhaps means he's falling deeper into his faith than he would like to be, as its stopping him having a good relationship with this girl.

But hey thats just me....

This is the first song I heard from the new album, and it made me go buy it right away. :)

I love the chorus main hook:

"Ooa I don't mind"
(well I don't mind)

It's so reminicent of the Cars and New Order, which i love (and are some of their many influences, says brandon)

To Me this Song Is About Someone Who Wants to Move On With Their Life. However They have trouble with this because of someone from their past. I Think That this Person Knows the singer so well that she Should be able to read his mind.
Very Touching and Catchy

i love the green thing in the music video. overall, the song is full clichés, maybe on purpose. the song drowns out its own words..

I change my mind like everyday but atm this is what I'm thinking!! Guy has grown up in a small town and now his childhood sweetheart is about to do what they always dreamt of doing together and move out to the city. he is having to choose between his town and his girlfriend...can you read my mind? meaning...do you know how much I want to come with you..but do you understand why I'm hesitating?

On the corner of main street
just tryin' to keep it in line
you say you wanna move on and
you say I'm falling behind

(girl has called relationship off because she wants to move on and get out of the small town and he doesn't seem ready to take the jump....so hes just loitering around reminiscing on their past together)

can you read my mind?
can you read my mind?--I don't want to lose you

I never really gave up on
breakin' out of this two-star town(he's always dreamt of getting out and seeing the world)
I got the green light (perhaps his family etc hav agreed and support his dream to travel but there's something stopping him...maybe the past he has there)
I got a little fight (having to convince/persuade family)
I'm gonna turn this thing around (not going to lose the girl he loves)

can you read my mind?
can you read my mind?--I want to come with you but I'm struggling with having to finally leave after all this time

The good old days
the honest man
the restless heart
the promised land (dreams of travelling)
a subtle kiss
that no one sees (their past together-innocent)
a broken wrist
and a big trapeze (have to take the risk)

Oh well I don't mind
if you don't mind
coz I don't shine
if you don't shine
before you go (he doesn't 'shine' if the one he loves doesn't so he's supporting her final decision to leave as he wants her to be successful and happy)

can you read my mind?

it's funny how you just break down
waitin' on some sign (realisation that he's lost what's most important to him)
I pull up to the front of your driveway
with magic soakin' my spine (determination to bring back their love and not lose it)

can you read my mind?
can you read my mind?---I'm not going to lose you

The teenage queen
the loaded gun
the drop dead dream
the chosen one
a southern drawl (perhaps as they are getting older they are getting bored with the insular life and need to break free else they will prob get into trouble and lose sight of their dreams)
a world unseen
a city wall
and a trampoline (jump over the wall to the wider world)

Oh well I don't mind
if you don't mind
coz I don't shine
if you don't shine
before you jump
tell me what you find
when you read my mind (before you go, can you see how much it's hurting me to see you leaving when I've still apprehensive)

Slippin in my faith
until I fall (faith that the relationship will be rekindled)
you never returned that call (she's trying to block him out and move on)
woman, open the door
don't let it sting
I wanna breathe that fire again (he wants their old love back)

She said
I don't mind
if you don't mind
coz I don't shine
if you don't shine (she doesn't want to lose him either but she has to get out...she's saying to him to come with her and share in her dream cos she doesnt mind as shes happiest when he is and wants to see him living his dream too)
put your back on me
put your back on me
put your back on me (I'll support you cos I know this is a huge step for you to take so trust me)

(ooooooo)

The stars are blazing
like rebel diamonds
cut out of the sun (stars symbolise hope for future together outside their small town....rebel diamonds- they are the rebels in a way as have broken away from the tradtional family way of life- moving away from security)
can you read my mind? (I'm glad I have you back and that we are living this dream together like we always said we would)

Is it just me who hears "slip into my bed now, 'till I'm bored" rather than "slippin' in my faith until I fall?"

just to add another take on the song i feel it's about a relationship that is coming to an end and that both people in the relationship deep down both want it to end and hence when one suggests ending it to the other,"you say you wanna move on.." the protagonists reply is "can you read my mind?" good song. awful video.

yeah ok but then how do you explain the 'woman open the door don't let it sting I wanna breathe that fire again?'...I don't think they want it to end I think they are having issues having to choose between the town they grew up in and their relationship, and no i think it's 'slipping in my faith'

i love to hate the killers but damn do they make some catchy tunes

i love to hate the killers but damn do they make some catchy tunes

why do you love to hate them?

I don't mind if you don't mind cause I don't shine if you don't shine. I love that.

very catchy song.. i certainly love it! (bow) for the killers! they rock!!!

Jessden, thats a great explaination

As someone said, the trampoline is used to get over the
obstacle of the city wall, and after the chorus bit, he says,
"Before you jump, tell me what you find. When you read
my mind." I think he's telling her that before she leaves
for the new world, think about his intake in the situation.

That's my idea on that part of the song.

I also think that the video was very well made
in such a way that it doesn't really relate to the
lyrics except the small quirks in the city he lives
in, but he still seems to love them anyway.

Well anyways, the video appeals to the title,
'Read My Mind," in which the viewer is given
a surreal look in what is going on his mind 'cause
when stories are told in first person or when
a person writes an autobiography, things seem
to be different compared to reality, and in the video,
the viewers are given the idea of actually getting
into his mind, and you know this because of
the fantasy images such as the green monster,
the different bike shapes, and the men in kimonos.

does anyone know where i can get the trance remix to this? Ferry Corsten markus schulz or Gab & Dresden did a remix to this and put it on a trance beat, and it was really good. If anyone knows where I can find it, lemme know, its much appreciated.

ahhh i

this song is about following dreams and helping the people u love chase their dreams...its about being stuck in a rut and knowing that you have to change and break out of your routine in order to get what you want...he dreams about breaking out and making a name for himself but he wants his girlfriend or wife to approve of this and thats why it says "i dont shine if you don't shine" basically his dreams are nothing if he can't be with the one he loves... can u read my mind refers to him hoping that him and his wife or g/f will agree that it's time to move on and chase his dreams..by the end it says "she says i don't mind if u dont mind cuz i dont shine if you don't shine"...she's realizing it's time to let him try out his dreams...basically if you love someone you will do anything in order for them to get what they want

could "the green light" be a reference to the great gatsby? after all, great gatsby is about the pursuit of happiness, and the green light at the end of daisy's dock is like the main symbol for unreachable dreams.. so if he says "I got the green light / I got a little fight / I'm gonna turn this thing around" that could mean he has what he wants..

Sorry if this sounds pessimistic and is totally different from the rest of yours:

I kinda thought that he was being somewhat sarcastic. Like it was all on him.

It's funny how you just break down
waitin' on some sign
I pull up to the front of your driveway
with magic soakin' my spine

He think it's funny how she just whines about life while he is just hoping that she thinks more about him than about herself. The word "magic" to me seems like she's expecting something impossible to happen like he has to pull something out of his ass to give it to her.

With the chorus in a sense of "I will if you will" seems to me like he has no say in the relationship. It just feels like its all a bunch of sarcasm and somewhat apathy. Well, if you want to do it... I guess I'm part of it too cause you make me.

All he wants to do is believe that everything's ideal, that he can find himself and get away from a totally depressing relationship. "Woman open the door, don't let it sting" is like "Let me tell you that this is my life, and I would love you, but you're being a little obsessive." And the rebel diamonds are his acts against normal society. He's just trying to get out and be who he wants to be.

"The next single is gonna be 'Read My Mind' and it's kind of our favorite song," Flowers revealed recently. "I guess our album kind of weaves in and out of different subjects and 'Read My Mind' is just holding on to the way we were raised and not letting go."

the fact that most critics slammed this song yet it somehow ended up on top 20 lists is a testament on how critics are quick to dispel anything popular without giving it it's true merit. This song deserves the attention it garnered and Sam's Town is a great album that shouldn't be missed.

I think this song is simply about remembering the old times, and the thoughts and dreams you had growing up. Talking about the trampoline and broken arms, common events as an adolesence.

This song is about being from a small town with little confidence when you finally find what it takes to be "someone". The different "word associations", as Sally called them, are "dreams" that you create in your head trying to convince yourself to go out on a limb and try to follow your dreams, etc.