Parts of these lyrics are vague enough that it's easy to interpret them in any number of different ways.
For my own life, I go for the living up to potential and taking risks interpretation.
"In a church, by the face,
He talks about the people going under."
Reference to a pastor speaking at funerals, trying to come up with something good (and true) to say about the dead. I've been to more than my fair share of funerals lately, and it's interesting to consider what your own funeral will be like when you die. Will people miss you? Will you have done anything worthwhile with your life? Or will your life seem like a waste to the people who listen to the pastor struggle to find something good to say?
"Only child know..."
Young children know how to take risks! They're not afraid of what other people think of them. They don't hide their feelings. They're just out there giving it their all, trying, tripping and falling down, getting up and trying again.
"A man decides after 70 years,
That what he goes there for, is to unlock the door.
While those around him criticize and sleep..."
Reference to the same pastor from above, wondering if people are getting anything out of his sermons. Wondering if he's making any difference in their lives. Wondering if he'll have anything good to say at their funeral.
THEN THE SONG SWITCHES FROM 3rd PERSON TO 1st PERSON....
"...Crazy yellow people walking through my head.
One of them's got a gun, to shoot the other one.
And yet together they were friends at school."
Referencing the two personalities in each of us, with competing desires for FREEDOM and SECURITY...work a job for the rest of our lives, or be an entrepreneur, risking it all, possibly getting rich, or possibly going broke. When in school, we were idealistic and thought we could have both Security & Freedom. Later in life, for most people, Security gets a gun and tries to kill our dreams of Freedom.
In some ways, each of these desires can have a "yellow" (cowardly) side to them. It's obvious how killing our dreams and going only for security can be seen as a bit cowardly. But that's one-sided. It takes courage to be a good employee. People sometimes are forced to quit their job because they allowed their entrepreneurial dreams to go too far. They fail to excel in their job because they're too prideful (cowardly) to make amends with their boss. They end up going out own their own when they should have swallowed their pride and learned how to deal with personalities in the work place. When they go out on their own, trying to be an entrepreneur, they discover some harsh realities.
"If all were there when we first took the pill,
then maybe......"
The pill of RESPONSIBILITY, often taken when we move out on our own, forces us to choose between Freedom and Security. If "all were there" and we were lucky enough to have some help and support when we first took the pill of RESPONSIBILITY, then maybe, maybe we can have both Freedom and Security.
At any rate, "miracles will happen as we trip, ....as we speak."
We've got to start taking risks. And we've got to promote ourselves. We're sure to fall on our face...probably a lot. But as we persist, miracles will begin to happen.
"Through a fractal on a breaking wall,
I see you my friend, and touch your face again."
Reference to a person reuniting with his/her dreams, that may have been long-lost.
I think this song is about someone reconciling within the needs for Freedom and Security. It sounds like Freedom was the outcast, and is now being allowed back in, reviving the dreamer. This person is choosing to let both co-exist and making a decision to get out of their comfort zone & go for it.
"get a little crazy"
Speaks of taking risks, doing things we aren't 100% sure of.
Also speaks of giving 110%...like William Wallace in Brave Heart. Show me your meanest looking WAR face!AAARRRRRRGGHHH! Now go out there and kick some butt!
FreeMe - excellent post. I agree 100% not just with your analysis but of the message Seal is trying to give us. It's a very powerful message and one that people would benefit from if they took action to remember and ACT on their dreams.
FreeMe - excellent post. I agree 100% not just with your analysis but of the message Seal is trying to give us. It's a very powerful message and one that people would benefit from if they took action to remember and ACT on their dreams.
Parts of these lyrics are vague enough that it's easy to interpret them in any number of different ways.
For my own life, I go for the living up to potential and taking risks interpretation.
"In a church, by the face, He talks about the people going under."
Reference to a pastor speaking at funerals, trying to come up with something good (and true) to say about the dead. I've been to more than my fair share of funerals lately, and it's interesting to consider what your own funeral will be like when you die. Will people miss you? Will you have done anything worthwhile with your life? Or will your life seem like a waste to the people who listen to the pastor struggle to find something good to say?
"Only child know..."
Young children know how to take risks! They're not afraid of what other people think of them. They don't hide their feelings. They're just out there giving it their all, trying, tripping and falling down, getting up and trying again.
"A man decides after 70 years, That what he goes there for, is to unlock the door. While those around him criticize and sleep..."
Reference to the same pastor from above, wondering if people are getting anything out of his sermons. Wondering if he's making any difference in their lives. Wondering if he'll have anything good to say at their funeral.
THEN THE SONG SWITCHES FROM 3rd PERSON TO 1st PERSON....
"...Crazy yellow people walking through my head. One of them's got a gun, to shoot the other one. And yet together they were friends at school." Referencing the two personalities in each of us, with competing desires for FREEDOM and SECURITY...work a job for the rest of our lives, or be an entrepreneur, risking it all, possibly getting rich, or possibly going broke. When in school, we were idealistic and thought we could have both Security & Freedom. Later in life, for most people, Security gets a gun and tries to kill our dreams of Freedom.
In some ways, each of these desires can have a "yellow" (cowardly) side to them. It's obvious how killing our dreams and going only for security can be seen as a bit cowardly. But that's one-sided. It takes courage to be a good employee. People sometimes are forced to quit their job because they allowed their entrepreneurial dreams to go too far. They fail to excel in their job because they're too prideful (cowardly) to make amends with their boss. They end up going out own their own when they should have swallowed their pride and learned how to deal with personalities in the work place. When they go out on their own, trying to be an entrepreneur, they discover some harsh realities.
"If all were there when we first took the pill, then maybe......"
The pill of RESPONSIBILITY, often taken when we move out on our own, forces us to choose between Freedom and Security. If "all were there" and we were lucky enough to have some help and support when we first took the pill of RESPONSIBILITY, then maybe, maybe we can have both Freedom and Security.
At any rate, "miracles will happen as we trip, ....as we speak."
We've got to start taking risks. And we've got to promote ourselves. We're sure to fall on our face...probably a lot. But as we persist, miracles will begin to happen.
"Through a fractal on a breaking wall, I see you my friend, and touch your face again."
Reference to a person reuniting with his/her dreams, that may have been long-lost.
I think this song is about someone reconciling within the needs for Freedom and Security. It sounds like Freedom was the outcast, and is now being allowed back in, reviving the dreamer. This person is choosing to let both co-exist and making a decision to get out of their comfort zone & go for it.
"get a little crazy"
Speaks of taking risks, doing things we aren't 100% sure of. Also speaks of giving 110%...like William Wallace in Brave Heart. Show me your meanest looking WAR face!AAARRRRRRGGHHH! Now go out there and kick some butt!
FreeMe - excellent post. I agree 100% not just with your analysis but of the message Seal is trying to give us. It's a very powerful message and one that people would benefit from if they took action to remember and ACT on their dreams.
FreeMe - excellent post. I agree 100% not just with your analysis but of the message Seal is trying to give us. It's a very powerful message and one that people would benefit from if they took action to remember and ACT on their dreams.