Yeah Scott, I think you’re right.
It’s a man commentating on the effects that his marriage and middle age are having on him. This could almost be ‘Slipping Husband’ from the husband’s perspective.
The chorus confuses me though. It sounds as if he may be making reference to other men in his position — ‘We’ll leave the silver city’. The ‘silver city’ could be interpreted as the “perfect” lifestyle that the narrator’s tired of.
Berninger, as always, is extremely self-deprecating although this song unusually contains some justification for his self-pity.
The symbolism of a ‘silver girl’ may be reference to his wife and thus, the wives of all men suffering from the dysfunction he describes. The fact that Berninger uses the colour silver may be homage to the bitter feelings he has towards the stereotype of a trophy wife.
He acknowledges his flaws; ‘I’ll try to be more romantic’ but ultimately blames this dysfunction on the trophy wives who aspire to mediocrity.
Toward the end of the song, the repetition of the line ‘I was afraid I’d eat your brains cos I’m evil’ suggests he left his spouse, returning to a self-deprecating persona because of guilt.
Silver city is slang for Hollywood, California (or 'Cinema City'). Hollywood movies are full of false hope and materialistic desires. Therefore 'silver girls' would (figuratively) be Hollywood girls, who the narrator says are welcome ('Leave the silver city to all the silver girls') to have the shallow lifestyles rampant in Los Angeles, etc. [Note: "It's a Hollywood summer" & "We belong in a movie".]
Silver city is slang for Hollywood, California (or 'Cinema City'). Hollywood movies are full of false hope and materialistic desires. Therefore 'silver girls' would (figuratively) be Hollywood girls, who the narrator says are welcome ('Leave the silver city to all the silver girls') to have the shallow lifestyles rampant in Los Angeles, etc. [Note: "It's a Hollywood summer" & "We belong in a movie".]
The desire to be a part of that make-believe "Hollywood" world is creating a feeling of loss of identity, being replaced by artificial personality traits and becoming a 'zombie'/evil. This conflict puts the subjects of the song into a dark place and the inner conflict gives them 'black dreams'.
Yeah Scott, I think you’re right. It’s a man commentating on the effects that his marriage and middle age are having on him. This could almost be ‘Slipping Husband’ from the husband’s perspective. The chorus confuses me though. It sounds as if he may be making reference to other men in his position — ‘We’ll leave the silver city’. The ‘silver city’ could be interpreted as the “perfect” lifestyle that the narrator’s tired of. Berninger, as always, is extremely self-deprecating although this song unusually contains some justification for his self-pity.
The symbolism of a ‘silver girl’ may be reference to his wife and thus, the wives of all men suffering from the dysfunction he describes. The fact that Berninger uses the colour silver may be homage to the bitter feelings he has towards the stereotype of a trophy wife.
He acknowledges his flaws; ‘I’ll try to be more romantic’ but ultimately blames this dysfunction on the trophy wives who aspire to mediocrity.
Toward the end of the song, the repetition of the line ‘I was afraid I’d eat your brains cos I’m evil’ suggests he left his spouse, returning to a self-deprecating persona because of guilt.
I believe you (and Scott) have it exactly. I couldn't agree more. These are some of Matt's best lyrics, in my opinion.
I believe you (and Scott) have it exactly. I couldn't agree more. These are some of Matt's best lyrics, in my opinion.
I like this interpretation very much!
I like this interpretation very much!
Adding on to it - my two cents:
Adding on to it - my two cents:
Silver city is slang for Hollywood, California (or 'Cinema City'). Hollywood movies are full of false hope and materialistic desires. Therefore 'silver girls' would (figuratively) be Hollywood girls, who the narrator says are welcome ('Leave the silver city to all the silver girls') to have the shallow lifestyles rampant in Los Angeles, etc. [Note: "It's a Hollywood summer" & "We belong in a movie".]
Silver city is slang for Hollywood, California (or 'Cinema City'). Hollywood movies are full of false hope and materialistic desires. Therefore 'silver girls' would (figuratively) be Hollywood girls, who the narrator says are welcome ('Leave the silver city to all the silver girls') to have the shallow lifestyles rampant in Los Angeles, etc. [Note: "It's a Hollywood summer" & "We belong in a movie".]
The desire to be a part of that make-believe "Hollywood" world is creating a feeling of loss of identity, being replaced by artificial personality traits and becoming a 'zombie'/evil. This conflict puts the subjects of the song into a dark place and the inner conflict gives them 'black dreams'.