Mm, for some reason I thought "Weepel" was "Wakefield" or something, which explains part of my interpretation.
I had the impression this song was about growing up and learning that life wasn't as smooth as it was when you were young; young, being the beginning part of the song, when he calls himself Jonas (as children, you generally are called by your first name).
Leaving the den and the train's departure are basically when you've grown up and are on your own, and the price of the ticket - your mind - means your childhood and innocence.
"Of course we were willing to pay" - kids are always anxious to grow up and become adults. (To any kids out there, enjoy your childhood while you still can. Seriously.)
(Here's where my Wakefield/Weepel confusion comes in.) When he says his name is Wakefield, which could very well be a last name, it signifies that he's now grown up, because adults go by their last names rather than their first. The toys are memories of a better past, long gone (out of batteries) but still something that he misses (making noise).
The empty tank/flat wheel and building problems represent hardships in life, where sometimes you feel like you just can't keep going or things end up not turning out the way you planned. With the workers abandoning their posts and going home, it's like most people don't really care and just want to do what they like; people in the real world have their own plans and can't always be dependable.
The ending line, "My name is Jonas", fades out somewhat wistfully, probably means that he still remembers how good it was to be young and wishes that he hadn't been so eager to grow up.
Mm, for some reason I thought "Weepel" was "Wakefield" or something, which explains part of my interpretation.
I had the impression this song was about growing up and learning that life wasn't as smooth as it was when you were young; young, being the beginning part of the song, when he calls himself Jonas (as children, you generally are called by your first name). Leaving the den and the train's departure are basically when you've grown up and are on your own, and the price of the ticket - your mind - means your childhood and innocence. "Of course we were willing to pay" - kids are always anxious to grow up and become adults. (To any kids out there, enjoy your childhood while you still can. Seriously.) (Here's where my Wakefield/Weepel confusion comes in.) When he says his name is Wakefield, which could very well be a last name, it signifies that he's now grown up, because adults go by their last names rather than their first. The toys are memories of a better past, long gone (out of batteries) but still something that he misses (making noise). The empty tank/flat wheel and building problems represent hardships in life, where sometimes you feel like you just can't keep going or things end up not turning out the way you planned. With the workers abandoning their posts and going home, it's like most people don't really care and just want to do what they like; people in the real world have their own plans and can't always be dependable. The ending line, "My name is Jonas", fades out somewhat wistfully, probably means that he still remembers how good it was to be young and wishes that he hadn't been so eager to grow up.