Some of the interpretations here seem to be a bit misguided, so I wanted to clear some things up. Having read John Krakauer's article in Outside magazine, the book, followed the recent affair of the controversy over how he actually died, and seen the movie several times, as well as knowing how to play this song on guitar (and therefore having had the time to memorize and mull over the lyrics), here's my view.
On bended knee is no way to be free.
[In society, people have specialized skill sets and therefore are interdependent. If you can't achieve what you want by yourself, you depend on others and are reduced to begging. On bended knee means begging. You are not free if you must beg]
Lifting up an empty cup, I ask silently
All my destinations will accept the one that's me.
So I can breathe.
[I have stripped myself of the desires of society, in lifting up my cup (i.e. when I beg) I ask only that there be air to breathe and places to go. I don't depend on others to achieve those desires]
Circles they grow and they swallow people whole.
Half their lives they say goodnight to wives they'll never know.
[Friend circles in society are big. You lose yourself in the group and don't really know anybody that well, even your wife].
A mind full of questions and a teacher in my soul
[I know little and there is always more to learn, but you know even less so I feel it is my duty to impart what I have learned.]
So it goes
[It's ironic that I find myself in a teaching role despite how little I know. How is it that people in society know so little?]
Don't come closer or I'll have to go.
[Becoming emotionally attached threatens my independence, so I'll leave if you try to get close to me].
Holding me like gravity are places that pull
[I'm not ready to become attached; there is so much more out there left to see]
If ever there was someone to keep me at home
It WOULDN'T be you.
[I've listened to this part closely and am convinced he says wouldn't. McCandless wanted to settle down one day once he had finished his adventures, but only if he found the right person to settle with. He didn't. Also he left home partially to explore, but also simply to get away from his parents.]
Everyone I come across in cages they bought.
[The material possessions that people buy, including houses, root them in their hometowns and prevent from simply getting up and leaving. They're trapped]
They look at me and my wandering, but I'm never what they thought
[People misunderstand my motives]
I've got my indignation but I'm pure in all my thoughts.
[Although I look down on others, I don't live this way out of spite. I live my life by a set of good morals]
I'm alive.
Wind in my hair I feel part of everywhere.
Underneath my being is a road that disappeared.
Late at night I hear the trees they're singing with the dead.
Overhead.
[I am truly alive and in sync with nature. Nature is my spirituality].
Leave it to me as I find a way to be.
Consider me a satellite forever orbitting.
[I will answer my own questions and find real answers, not the dogma that society has passed on through the generations, so don't try to impose your views on me.]
I knew all the rules but the rules did not know me.
Guaranteed
[I knew society's rules but chose to eschew them as they didn't make sense. The system didn't anticipate this].
I like this interpretation the most. I think there's a chance that the first part is a marriage proposal without a bended knee. Second and third can also be a struggling throughout the marrage followed by a divorce.
I like this interpretation the most. I think there's a chance that the first part is a marriage proposal without a bended knee. Second and third can also be a struggling throughout the marrage followed by a divorce.
Some of the interpretations here seem to be a bit misguided, so I wanted to clear some things up. Having read John Krakauer's article in Outside magazine, the book, followed the recent affair of the controversy over how he actually died, and seen the movie several times, as well as knowing how to play this song on guitar (and therefore having had the time to memorize and mull over the lyrics), here's my view.
On bended knee is no way to be free. [In society, people have specialized skill sets and therefore are interdependent. If you can't achieve what you want by yourself, you depend on others and are reduced to begging. On bended knee means begging. You are not free if you must beg] Lifting up an empty cup, I ask silently All my destinations will accept the one that's me. So I can breathe. [I have stripped myself of the desires of society, in lifting up my cup (i.e. when I beg) I ask only that there be air to breathe and places to go. I don't depend on others to achieve those desires]
Circles they grow and they swallow people whole. Half their lives they say goodnight to wives they'll never know. [Friend circles in society are big. You lose yourself in the group and don't really know anybody that well, even your wife]. A mind full of questions and a teacher in my soul [I know little and there is always more to learn, but you know even less so I feel it is my duty to impart what I have learned.] So it goes [It's ironic that I find myself in a teaching role despite how little I know. How is it that people in society know so little?]
Don't come closer or I'll have to go. [Becoming emotionally attached threatens my independence, so I'll leave if you try to get close to me]. Holding me like gravity are places that pull [I'm not ready to become attached; there is so much more out there left to see] If ever there was someone to keep me at home It WOULDN'T be you. [I've listened to this part closely and am convinced he says wouldn't. McCandless wanted to settle down one day once he had finished his adventures, but only if he found the right person to settle with. He didn't. Also he left home partially to explore, but also simply to get away from his parents.]
Everyone I come across in cages they bought. [The material possessions that people buy, including houses, root them in their hometowns and prevent from simply getting up and leaving. They're trapped] They look at me and my wandering, but I'm never what they thought [People misunderstand my motives] I've got my indignation but I'm pure in all my thoughts. [Although I look down on others, I don't live this way out of spite. I live my life by a set of good morals]
I'm alive. Wind in my hair I feel part of everywhere. Underneath my being is a road that disappeared. Late at night I hear the trees they're singing with the dead. Overhead. [I am truly alive and in sync with nature. Nature is my spirituality].
Leave it to me as I find a way to be. Consider me a satellite forever orbitting. [I will answer my own questions and find real answers, not the dogma that society has passed on through the generations, so don't try to impose your views on me.] I knew all the rules but the rules did not know me. Guaranteed [I knew society's rules but chose to eschew them as they didn't make sense. The system didn't anticipate this].
Most accurate interpretation.
Most accurate interpretation.
I like this interpretation the most. I think there's a chance that the first part is a marriage proposal without a bended knee. Second and third can also be a struggling throughout the marrage followed by a divorce.
I like this interpretation the most. I think there's a chance that the first part is a marriage proposal without a bended knee. Second and third can also be a struggling throughout the marrage followed by a divorce.