I'm definitely hearing some different lyrics in spots, and I agree with @notfromohio that the song is political--probably the most beautifully understated politically-oriented song I've ever heard.
Here's my interpretation:
Godless brother = Perhaps a soldier or "brother at arms"
Mother = The Statue of Liberty ("Lady Liberty"), who is stuck observing the ensuing bad behavior, which is out of her control.
Children = The politicians etc. on Capital Hill (see later note)
Godless brother in love
You might as well
Lay down that rose and
Fold the Flag
[[[Rose and a folded flag are traditional in military funerals--he's saying that the death is bound to happen, so you might as well go through the funerary motions now]]]
She hears money and
Taps that broken freedom bell.
See her big children burning rags
By the riverside.
[[[The Liberty Bell is referred to here--and it is both literally and figuratively broken. It's as though when the mother (Lady Liberty) hears all of this talk about money, she taps the bell to remind them what it stands for. The "big children" are politicians, burning rags, being careless with natural resources.]]]
And you can hear them on the hilltop laughing
Cursing every bird in the air
Telling her what fun they're having
Driving eyes closed.
[[["Hilltop" is Capitol Hill, (which is why I think the "children" are meant to be politicians}. "Cursing every bird in the air" could refer to airplanes, and the paranoia and fear mongering that ran rampant after 9/11. “Driving eyes closed” of course, refers to the self-induced blindness or shortsightedness of the people “driving” the country, and having a very good time doing it.]]]
Godless brother as far as I can tell
The night won't compensate the blind.
[[[The darkness/blindness that night brings is no compensation for the blind, because they never get to see, even when there is light.]]]
She looks lovely as lightning
Oh but what the hell...
Her big kids all run down the road
With no memories at all.
[[The Statue of Liberty’s raised arm is an extremely common site of lightning strikes. The politicians are “running down the road with no memories at all,” meaning that they are rushing forward without any caution or thought as to where they are going or where they have (or their country has) been.
And you can hear them on the hilltop laughing
Cursing every bird in the air
Telling her what fun they're having
Driving eyes closed.
I'm definitely hearing some different lyrics in spots, and I agree with @notfromohio that the song is political--probably the most beautifully understated politically-oriented song I've ever heard.
Here's my interpretation:
Godless brother = Perhaps a soldier or "brother at arms" Mother = The Statue of Liberty ("Lady Liberty"), who is stuck observing the ensuing bad behavior, which is out of her control. Children = The politicians etc. on Capital Hill (see later note)
Godless brother in love You might as well Lay down that rose and Fold the Flag
[[[Rose and a folded flag are traditional in military funerals--he's saying that the death is bound to happen, so you might as well go through the funerary motions now]]]
She hears money and Taps that broken freedom bell. See her big children burning rags By the riverside.
[[[The Liberty Bell is referred to here--and it is both literally and figuratively broken. It's as though when the mother (Lady Liberty) hears all of this talk about money, she taps the bell to remind them what it stands for. The "big children" are politicians, burning rags, being careless with natural resources.]]]
And you can hear them on the hilltop laughing Cursing every bird in the air Telling her what fun they're having Driving eyes closed.
[[["Hilltop" is Capitol Hill, (which is why I think the "children" are meant to be politicians}. "Cursing every bird in the air" could refer to airplanes, and the paranoia and fear mongering that ran rampant after 9/11. “Driving eyes closed” of course, refers to the self-induced blindness or shortsightedness of the people “driving” the country, and having a very good time doing it.]]]
Godless brother as far as I can tell The night won't compensate the blind.
[[[The darkness/blindness that night brings is no compensation for the blind, because they never get to see, even when there is light.]]]
She looks lovely as lightning Oh but what the hell... Her big kids all run down the road With no memories at all.
[[The Statue of Liberty’s raised arm is an extremely common site of lightning strikes. The politicians are “running down the road with no memories at all,” meaning that they are rushing forward without any caution or thought as to where they are going or where they have (or their country has) been.
And you can hear them on the hilltop laughing Cursing every bird in the air Telling her what fun they're having Driving eyes closed.
[[[Repeat analysis of first chorus.]]]