I can see my high school and college lit teachers weeping with joy that I would voluntarily analyzing a song :)
Starting from the top:
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
can you read my mind?
can you read my mind?
Like most others, I believe the guy is acknowledging that his girl wants to move. The move could involve location, job or spiritual, but those details are immaterial – the fact is she wants to change, and apparently believes that he’s not up to the task. When he asks “can you read my mind” in this first case, I think he means it as a challenge, as if to say “how can you be so sure that I can’t / won’t keep up?”.
I never really gave up on
breakin' out of this two-star town
I got the green light
I got a little fight
I'm gonna turn this thing around
can you read my mind?
can you read my mind?
Here, I think he’s saying that even though he may have given the impression of half-heartedness, he never really gave up on pursuing her and her move. Now when he asks if she can read his mind, he’s challenging her to see the sincerity of his words.
The good old days
the honest man
the restless heart
the promised land
To me, this hearkens back to the myths of the American west circa 1800, although anyone hearing the song could identify with it, since there were so many migrations and expansions throughout the history of the world. I think the idea is that, just as in the mythical “good old days”, anyone who possesses self-honesty and the yearning for adventure can indeed make it to “the promised land”, which may be as much a state of mind as a physical location. I think he sees both his girlfriend and himself as possessing those qualities.
a subtle kiss
that no one sees
When people are truly in love, the smallest, briefest kiss, to the shoulder, the hand, or even the finger, unseen by anyone else, can convey more love and meaning than a half-hour of hearty snogging. He sees the two of them as having such a profound love.
a broken wrist
and a big trapeze
He’s willing to take any risk to stay with her.
Oh well I don't mind
if you don't mind
coz I don't shine
if you don't shine
before you go
can you read my mind?
As long as she’s willing to bear the risks and uncertainty, so is he. He can’t be at his best (shine) if she’s not at her best. Now when he asks if she can read his mind, asking her to realize his sincerity.
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
can you read my mind?
can you read my mind?
Waiting takes its toll, and a lack of patience or self-control can lead to precipitous action. He can’t wait any longer for her to come out and tell him what she thinks, so he drives over to her home, amped on excitement and adrenaline.
If she could read his mind now, she would see the intensity of his yearning for her, and his bone-deep sincerity. Maybe that would convince her to keep him.
The teenage queen
the loaded gun
the drop dead dream
the chosen one
He thinks that she sees herself as “the teenage queen” and “the chosen one”. The teenage queen is an object of shallow desire – pretty, sexy, young and lacking wisdom. The chosen one – a person for whom Destiny has a plan.
She also plans an irrevocable act – “the loaded gun”, and thinks that she has it all figured out – “the drop dead dream”
a southern drawl
a world unseen
She desires romance and novelty
a city wall
and a trampoline
A way to escape their current place / situation
Oh well I don't mind
if you don't mind
coz I don't shine
if you don't shine
Same as before
before you jump
tell me what you find
when you read my mind
Now he beseeches her to read his mind before she leaves without him. His only chance is for her to read his mind, as his words are inadequate.
Slippin in my faith
until I fall
He never returned that call
I’ve seen a lot of discussion about this, and here’s my take: “he” makes sense if we’re talking about God. “Slipping in my faith…he never returned that call” – I’ve lost my faith, because God ignored my prayers.
woman, open the door
don't let it sting
I wanna breathe that fire again
Since God can’t, or won’t, help him, only she can keep them together.
She said
I don't mind
if you don't mind
coz I don't shine
if you don't shine
She gives him a reprieve, and tells him that she will share the risks with him, as she can’t be at her best if he’s not at his best.
put your back on me
put your back on me
put your back on me
She’ll carry him, if need be.
The stars are blazing
like rebel diamonds
cut out of the sun
when you read my mind. *NOTE – “when”, not “can”.
Speaking only for myself, I have to imagine that nothing could be more amazing than seeing stars that blaze like rebel diamonds cut directly from the sun. Yep, that would be one fine sight. But this will only be possible WHEN she reads his mind.
@jerseyguy1953 I just wanted to say how much I appreciated you sharing your thoughts. Thank you. I have attempted to +1 your comment but for some reason, my +1's never register.
@jerseyguy1953 I just wanted to say how much I appreciated you sharing your thoughts. Thank you. I have attempted to +1 your comment but for some reason, my +1's never register.
I can see my high school and college lit teachers weeping with joy that I would voluntarily analyzing a song :)
Starting from the top:
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
can you read my mind? can you read my mind?
Like most others, I believe the guy is acknowledging that his girl wants to move. The move could involve location, job or spiritual, but those details are immaterial – the fact is she wants to change, and apparently believes that he’s not up to the task. When he asks “can you read my mind” in this first case, I think he means it as a challenge, as if to say “how can you be so sure that I can’t / won’t keep up?”.
I never really gave up on breakin' out of this two-star town I got the green light I got a little fight I'm gonna turn this thing around
can you read my mind? can you read my mind?
Here, I think he’s saying that even though he may have given the impression of half-heartedness, he never really gave up on pursuing her and her move. Now when he asks if she can read his mind, he’s challenging her to see the sincerity of his words.
The good old days the honest man the restless heart the promised land
To me, this hearkens back to the myths of the American west circa 1800, although anyone hearing the song could identify with it, since there were so many migrations and expansions throughout the history of the world. I think the idea is that, just as in the mythical “good old days”, anyone who possesses self-honesty and the yearning for adventure can indeed make it to “the promised land”, which may be as much a state of mind as a physical location. I think he sees both his girlfriend and himself as possessing those qualities. a subtle kiss that no one sees
When people are truly in love, the smallest, briefest kiss, to the shoulder, the hand, or even the finger, unseen by anyone else, can convey more love and meaning than a half-hour of hearty snogging. He sees the two of them as having such a profound love.
a broken wrist and a big trapeze
He’s willing to take any risk to stay with her.
Oh well I don't mind if you don't mind coz I don't shine if you don't shine before you go
can you read my mind?
As long as she’s willing to bear the risks and uncertainty, so is he. He can’t be at his best (shine) if she’s not at her best. Now when he asks if she can read his mind, asking her to realize his sincerity.
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
can you read my mind? can you read my mind?
Waiting takes its toll, and a lack of patience or self-control can lead to precipitous action. He can’t wait any longer for her to come out and tell him what she thinks, so he drives over to her home, amped on excitement and adrenaline.
If she could read his mind now, she would see the intensity of his yearning for her, and his bone-deep sincerity. Maybe that would convince her to keep him.
The teenage queen the loaded gun the drop dead dream the chosen one
He thinks that she sees herself as “the teenage queen” and “the chosen one”. The teenage queen is an object of shallow desire – pretty, sexy, young and lacking wisdom. The chosen one – a person for whom Destiny has a plan.
She also plans an irrevocable act – “the loaded gun”, and thinks that she has it all figured out – “the drop dead dream”
a southern drawl a world unseen
She desires romance and novelty
a city wall and a trampoline
A way to escape their current place / situation
Oh well I don't mind if you don't mind coz I don't shine if you don't shine
Same as before
before you jump tell me what you find when you read my mind
Now he beseeches her to read his mind before she leaves without him. His only chance is for her to read his mind, as his words are inadequate.
Slippin in my faith until I fall He never returned that call
I’ve seen a lot of discussion about this, and here’s my take: “he” makes sense if we’re talking about God. “Slipping in my faith…he never returned that call” – I’ve lost my faith, because God ignored my prayers.
woman, open the door don't let it sting I wanna breathe that fire again
Since God can’t, or won’t, help him, only she can keep them together.
She said I don't mind if you don't mind coz I don't shine if you don't shine
She gives him a reprieve, and tells him that she will share the risks with him, as she can’t be at her best if he’s not at his best.
put your back on me put your back on me put your back on me
She’ll carry him, if need be.
The stars are blazing like rebel diamonds cut out of the sun when you read my mind. *NOTE – “when”, not “can”.
Speaking only for myself, I have to imagine that nothing could be more amazing than seeing stars that blaze like rebel diamonds cut directly from the sun. Yep, that would be one fine sight. But this will only be possible WHEN she reads his mind.
@jerseyguy1953 I just wanted to say how much I appreciated you sharing your thoughts. Thank you. I have attempted to +1 your comment but for some reason, my +1's never register.
@jerseyguy1953 I just wanted to say how much I appreciated you sharing your thoughts. Thank you. I have attempted to +1 your comment but for some reason, my +1's never register.