I believe the meaning is more universal than has been invoked. Specifically, I believe that the song is a metaphor for one's life, for one's values, for one's early adulthood. Our views of the world, our prejudices, our values are formed in our adolescence. And there we remained locked forever, chained in as it were! And despite how hard we try, we are helpless to change any of that!
Hence, in my opinion, helpless refers to our overall condition vis-a-vis who we are! We are helpless to be someone other than who we are! The house is a metaphor for our values. We can look out through the windows at the blue sky......but we cannot leave our metaphorical house (i.e. our values) !!!
I believe the meaning is more universal than has been invoked. Specifically, I believe that the song is a metaphor for one's life, for one's values, for one's early adulthood. Our views of the world, our prejudices, our values are formed in our adolescence. And there we remained locked forever, chained in as it were! And despite how hard we try, we are helpless to change any of that! Hence, in my opinion, helpless refers to our overall condition vis-a-vis who we are! We are helpless to be someone other than who we are! The house is a metaphor for our values. We can look out through the windows at the blue sky......but we cannot leave our metaphorical house (i.e. our values) !!!