The war is with himself and his feelings about his music/art.
He tried for 10 years (originally in the Format) not to sacrifice his artistic principals for fame and acceptance. But he finally couldn't take it anymore. The ghost he is referring to is the ideal of getting famous without sacrificing his art.
When he speaks in the middle is maybe the most significant part of the song. He is speaking directly to us--his audience. He is telling us that he finally sold his soul (sacrificed his art making a more traditionally "pop" album)--that he left home, and everything he once believed.
When I see stars, that's all they are:" he is saying that there is no longer any reason he shouldn't be famous--there is nothing special about stars that he doesn't have.
"when I hear songs, they sound like this one:" he made a pop song for the sake of getting big--"so come on," and let him finally make it. Interestingly, this is where he uses the vocoder....making a statement about how pop stars don';t actually have to be talented (the can just use vocoders--and somehow THAT has become popular. So the song he hears "sound like this one," vocoder and all. Again, he feels like he sacrificed the true art of what he is doing to be successful as a pop star.
In the end, "the most amazing things can come from some terrible nights." He is starting to accept that he "sold out" because holding onto your principals is just not worth "dying alone all dried up in the desert sun." What is life, if no matter what you do, you're never appreciated?
In the end, he is saying he had a dream about his past art--his past self. "It's for the best you didn't listen:" His younger self would have hated what he became. "It's for the best we get our distance:" he's finally accepted the reality that he cannot live up to his artistic ideal. But he's also finally happy...he feels successful and accepted...and his hard work has finally paid off.
To me, the meaning is pretty clear.
The war is with himself and his feelings about his music/art.
He tried for 10 years (originally in the Format) not to sacrifice his artistic principals for fame and acceptance. But he finally couldn't take it anymore. The ghost he is referring to is the ideal of getting famous without sacrificing his art.
When he speaks in the middle is maybe the most significant part of the song. He is speaking directly to us--his audience. He is telling us that he finally sold his soul (sacrificed his art making a more traditionally "pop" album)--that he left home, and everything he once believed. When I see stars, that's all they are:" he is saying that there is no longer any reason he shouldn't be famous--there is nothing special about stars that he doesn't have. "when I hear songs, they sound like this one:" he made a pop song for the sake of getting big--"so come on," and let him finally make it. Interestingly, this is where he uses the vocoder....making a statement about how pop stars don';t actually have to be talented (the can just use vocoders--and somehow THAT has become popular. So the song he hears "sound like this one," vocoder and all. Again, he feels like he sacrificed the true art of what he is doing to be successful as a pop star.
In the end, "the most amazing things can come from some terrible nights." He is starting to accept that he "sold out" because holding onto your principals is just not worth "dying alone all dried up in the desert sun." What is life, if no matter what you do, you're never appreciated?
In the end, he is saying he had a dream about his past art--his past self. "It's for the best you didn't listen:" His younger self would have hated what he became. "It's for the best we get our distance:" he's finally accepted the reality that he cannot live up to his artistic ideal. But he's also finally happy...he feels successful and accepted...and his hard work has finally paid off.
Sorry about all the typos--I wrote this really quickly. :-p
Sorry about all the typos--I wrote this really quickly. :-p
Thanks for the information-interpretation! I think you've touched on some really great points :)
Thanks for the information-interpretation! I think you've touched on some really great points :)