I actually think some of this song is a response to school shootings. This explains the "recent rash of kidsmoke." The second verse seems an attempt at coaxing a teenager to talk about their issues, and offers a sort of weird hope with "the sun will rise, we'll climb into cars/The future has a valley and a shortcut around." The last part about the stone rising reminds me of the easter story, as does a lot of the record. But I think the most telling part of the entire song is "there's no blood on my hands, I just do as I'm told." This was the most common defense of ordinary Germans turned into Nazis, and I think Tweedy is commenting on American dastardly complacency in response to such issues, particularly why American children are so violent. "It's not my problem, there's no blood on my hands," etc.
I actually think some of this song is a response to school shootings. This explains the "recent rash of kidsmoke." The second verse seems an attempt at coaxing a teenager to talk about their issues, and offers a sort of weird hope with "the sun will rise, we'll climb into cars/The future has a valley and a shortcut around." The last part about the stone rising reminds me of the easter story, as does a lot of the record. But I think the most telling part of the entire song is "there's no blood on my hands, I just do as I'm told." This was the most common defense of ordinary Germans turned into Nazis, and I think Tweedy is commenting on American dastardly complacency in response to such issues, particularly why American children are so violent. "It's not my problem, there's no blood on my hands," etc.