i believe any song will mean different things to different people and no one is wrong because they can provide answers or meanings in any context to any one at any time or cirumstance.
this is how i interpret it now its kinda shakey but hte best i can do for this un usual but absolutely brilliant song. I believe that the plateau can be representing a higher level of understanding of our selves, a higher sense of clarity or mind and clarity of soul. Hopefully this will be justifies in my pick session :P
Many a hand has scaled the grand old face of the plateau Some belong to strangers and some to folks you know.
i take this section as alot of people are trying to feel their way or searching for something of great valuable or of supreme value to us all because of the "GRAND OLD FACE" this can be seen as old and valuable on a higher level. This being the higher level of clarity and understanding whether it be religion, knowledge, self respect, human morals so on so forth.
"many a hand scaled" they are searching blindly, not sure what they are looking for, but they are looking closly because they are "scaling" the plateau.
and these people are among us because they are strangers and folks we know, so secretive and confidential could be anyone and everyone but they are plentiful in numbers. Adding to this I believe they are favoring that not everyone found what they was searching for.
Holy ghosts and talk show hosts are planted in the sand
To beautify the foothills and shake the many hands
i believe this section is refering to the many commercial bodies and religious bodies that have found this "plateau" or are aware of it, because they are "planted in the sand" they werent orignally there they were planted and they arent going any where. The fact that they are in sand shows that they are not supposed to be there, you don’t generally plant in sand but soil.
To beautify the foot hills tips me off that they are not on top of the plateau but at the very base of understanding or the foot hills of the plateau, and to beautify shows they are altering the image of the appearance of this plateau to pretty it up and decorate it, tweaking the truth a bit. Also keeping in mind that to beautify is a personal taste and religious and commercial bodies are beautifying the foot hills and using the plateau as the attraction. This gives a hint of confusion because religion and business in essence search for different things but yet they’re are planted together.
Shaking the many hands gives a hint of introduction, meeting, greeting because a hand shake is traditionally used as an agreement between human beings, whether it be an agreement of greeting or communication. So they are greeting and people are agreeing with their beautification.
Nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop And an illustrated book about birds
You see a lot up there but don't be scared Who needs action when you got words
A different voice (kurt) comes in and presents the chorus, which gives a hint of a different point of view, and uses more direct and less presumption language and is telling us something directly maybe a clarified voice. There is nothing on the top but a bucket and the mop, I interpret this as the means of those who make it their to clean the plateau and keep it clean unlike the foot hills or they may find themselves in a position to clean. So this may be keep the clarity of mind to reach that plateau and don’t be scrambled by the many different opinions out their search your own truth and be true.
the illustrated book about birds, this is a good one but I believe it to be this, its hard work to reach that plateau its an up hill run all the way till you reach that soft smooth plain where the hard work is done and you have reached your goal. The illustrated book about birds is only needed if you need pictures to see the animal, and you only want to see it in the book if you are searching for it in reality right, and birds is a relaxing past time for a lot of people, so I believe it mean that once you have reached that plateau, that smooth soft point, you can reap the benefits of your or journey and that higher level of clarity you find guidance. And a bird is a free roaming creature, you can start observing the paths and things you couldn’t before because of your new found guidance (clarity of mind)
You see a lot up there but don’t be scared, Who needs actions when you got words
This is a difficult one I work out too. I believe this, men fear the unknown, and this plateau is strange to us and through this clarity we see a lot of things that we didn’t know existed before, and suddenly we are aware of it. So he this alter clarified voice is saying don’t be scared you might not be able to act on these new truths but you now have the words ( and with words TRUE words comes knowledge)and the knowledge of these things to understand them enough to not fear them.
When you've finished with the mop then you can stop And look at what you've done
The plateau's clean, no dirt to be seen And the work it took was fun
So when you have finished with the cleansing of mind, or clarity of soul you can observe and go over what you have done, re-evaluate your situation, check that the jobs is done. When the you see that you have thoroughly cleansed your mind and soul and clarity is reached you have true feeling of relief thus the fun a happy positive response to your journey. This stanza is a post evaluation of ones self after the tasks have been completed and an appreciation of the path and the “plateau” this calm mellow state of clarity.
Many a hands began to scan around for the next plateau Some said it was in Greenland and some in Mexico
Others decided it was nowhere except for where they stood Those were all just guesses, wouldn't help you if they could
I believe this to be those who have find that higher level of clarity, some begin to search for the next level of clarity and they are searching in a place far from the original plateau I believe this because they name places which are countries stating a great distance from the current plateau. Maybe a higher sense clarity people better themselves once they have reached that goal and look for a different plateau to fulfill and reach and others find peace at where they are and believe that this is the only plateau to be found.
Then it states those were all just guesses, wouldn’t help you if they could, this shows uncertainty and shows me that as high as we go as cleansed and clarified as we think we can be their will always be something we don’t know and more then likely wont reach thus the wouldn’t help you if they could. There is always some where to go there is no end to life there is always a path to find and always choices. You just might have to find it yourself and not rely on third party help to get there. Make the effort your self, reap rewards of your own effort, might be hard work to reach your goals, but in the end its worth it. The hardest things achieved are the most beneficial.
Well guys this is my opinion of the song and as I said every one gets their own out of a song and seeks their own meaning, and I believe my interpretation can cover all the different opinions brought up here and reinforce their value.
Any opinions guys cause I am very keen on feed back.
i believe any song will mean different things to different people and no one is wrong because they can provide answers or meanings in any context to any one at any time or cirumstance. this is how i interpret it now its kinda shakey but hte best i can do for this un usual but absolutely brilliant song. I believe that the plateau can be representing a higher level of understanding of our selves, a higher sense of clarity or mind and clarity of soul. Hopefully this will be justifies in my pick session :P
Many a hand has scaled the grand old face of the plateau Some belong to strangers and some to folks you know.
i take this section as alot of people are trying to feel their way or searching for something of great valuable or of supreme value to us all because of the "GRAND OLD FACE" this can be seen as old and valuable on a higher level. This being the higher level of clarity and understanding whether it be religion, knowledge, self respect, human morals so on so forth.
"many a hand scaled" they are searching blindly, not sure what they are looking for, but they are looking closly because they are "scaling" the plateau. and these people are among us because they are strangers and folks we know, so secretive and confidential could be anyone and everyone but they are plentiful in numbers. Adding to this I believe they are favoring that not everyone found what they was searching for.
Holy ghosts and talk show hosts are planted in the sand To beautify the foothills and shake the many hands
i believe this section is refering to the many commercial bodies and religious bodies that have found this "plateau" or are aware of it, because they are "planted in the sand" they werent orignally there they were planted and they arent going any where. The fact that they are in sand shows that they are not supposed to be there, you don’t generally plant in sand but soil.
To beautify the foot hills tips me off that they are not on top of the plateau but at the very base of understanding or the foot hills of the plateau, and to beautify shows they are altering the image of the appearance of this plateau to pretty it up and decorate it, tweaking the truth a bit. Also keeping in mind that to beautify is a personal taste and religious and commercial bodies are beautifying the foot hills and using the plateau as the attraction. This gives a hint of confusion because religion and business in essence search for different things but yet they’re are planted together. Shaking the many hands gives a hint of introduction, meeting, greeting because a hand shake is traditionally used as an agreement between human beings, whether it be an agreement of greeting or communication. So they are greeting and people are agreeing with their beautification.
Nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop And an illustrated book about birds You see a lot up there but don't be scared Who needs action when you got words
A different voice (kurt) comes in and presents the chorus, which gives a hint of a different point of view, and uses more direct and less presumption language and is telling us something directly maybe a clarified voice. There is nothing on the top but a bucket and the mop, I interpret this as the means of those who make it their to clean the plateau and keep it clean unlike the foot hills or they may find themselves in a position to clean. So this may be keep the clarity of mind to reach that plateau and don’t be scrambled by the many different opinions out their search your own truth and be true.
the illustrated book about birds, this is a good one but I believe it to be this, its hard work to reach that plateau its an up hill run all the way till you reach that soft smooth plain where the hard work is done and you have reached your goal. The illustrated book about birds is only needed if you need pictures to see the animal, and you only want to see it in the book if you are searching for it in reality right, and birds is a relaxing past time for a lot of people, so I believe it mean that once you have reached that plateau, that smooth soft point, you can reap the benefits of your or journey and that higher level of clarity you find guidance. And a bird is a free roaming creature, you can start observing the paths and things you couldn’t before because of your new found guidance (clarity of mind)
You see a lot up there but don’t be scared, Who needs actions when you got words
This is a difficult one I work out too. I believe this, men fear the unknown, and this plateau is strange to us and through this clarity we see a lot of things that we didn’t know existed before, and suddenly we are aware of it. So he this alter clarified voice is saying don’t be scared you might not be able to act on these new truths but you now have the words ( and with words TRUE words comes knowledge)and the knowledge of these things to understand them enough to not fear them.
When you've finished with the mop then you can stop And look at what you've done The plateau's clean, no dirt to be seen And the work it took was fun
So when you have finished with the cleansing of mind, or clarity of soul you can observe and go over what you have done, re-evaluate your situation, check that the jobs is done. When the you see that you have thoroughly cleansed your mind and soul and clarity is reached you have true feeling of relief thus the fun a happy positive response to your journey. This stanza is a post evaluation of ones self after the tasks have been completed and an appreciation of the path and the “plateau” this calm mellow state of clarity.
Many a hands began to scan around for the next plateau Some said it was in Greenland and some in Mexico Others decided it was nowhere except for where they stood Those were all just guesses, wouldn't help you if they could
I believe this to be those who have find that higher level of clarity, some begin to search for the next level of clarity and they are searching in a place far from the original plateau I believe this because they name places which are countries stating a great distance from the current plateau. Maybe a higher sense clarity people better themselves once they have reached that goal and look for a different plateau to fulfill and reach and others find peace at where they are and believe that this is the only plateau to be found.
Then it states those were all just guesses, wouldn’t help you if they could, this shows uncertainty and shows me that as high as we go as cleansed and clarified as we think we can be their will always be something we don’t know and more then likely wont reach thus the wouldn’t help you if they could. There is always some where to go there is no end to life there is always a path to find and always choices. You just might have to find it yourself and not rely on third party help to get there. Make the effort your self, reap rewards of your own effort, might be hard work to reach your goals, but in the end its worth it. The hardest things achieved are the most beneficial.
Well guys this is my opinion of the song and as I said every one gets their own out of a song and seeks their own meaning, and I believe my interpretation can cover all the different opinions brought up here and reinforce their value.
Any opinions guys cause I am very keen on feed back.