I think there are a lot of references to death, but in a very peaceful, accepting way. I think the song covers loss, moving on and change. There are also comparisons between death and hope.
"And a bridge that had tumbled to the ground"
"I saw sickness, blooming fruit trees" - here shows the contrast between sickness and health
"I saw blood and a bit of it was mine"
"I saw children in a river
But their lips were still dry, lips were still dry" - talking perhaps about poverty, and how they can't drink the dirty water so they die/get ill from thirst.
"Saw a bird fall like a hammer from the sky" shows death in nature/animals
"Saw an old woman on the speed train
She was closing her eyes, closing her eyes" again, another reference to fear or death or moving on.
"Saw a prisoner take a pistol
And say, "Join me in song, join me in song""
"Saw a car crash in the country"
"I saw strangers stealing kisses" - last kisses before parting ways or in old age perhaps?"
"I saw kindness and an angel
Crying, "Take me back home, take me back home" - take me back home; to heaven or just back to earth
I think there are a lot of references to death, but in a very peaceful, accepting way. I think the song covers loss, moving on and change. There are also comparisons between death and hope.
"And a bridge that had tumbled to the ground"
"I saw sickness, blooming fruit trees" - here shows the contrast between sickness and health
"I saw blood and a bit of it was mine"
"I saw children in a river But their lips were still dry, lips were still dry" - talking perhaps about poverty, and how they can't drink the dirty water so they die/get ill from thirst.
"Saw a bird fall like a hammer from the sky" shows death in nature/animals
"Saw an old woman on the speed train She was closing her eyes, closing her eyes" again, another reference to fear or death or moving on.
"Saw a prisoner take a pistol And say, "Join me in song, join me in song""
"Saw a car crash in the country"
"I saw strangers stealing kisses" - last kisses before parting ways or in old age perhaps?"
"I saw kindness and an angel Crying, "Take me back home, take me back home" - take me back home; to heaven or just back to earth