In my opinion most of the theories I see here are thinking too large, like the song is a broad representation of society, when it is quite simply a lesson to help people who can't sleep due to past experiences and how they still torment you. The "Old guard" is an individual's defense in an everyday situation, blocking them from thinking clearly. These come about when an old experience is thought about too often, far beyond wringing all meaning from them. Probably the biggest point this song is making is that you need to know when you're being held back by your past, and that it needs to be destroyed. A good indicator that something is a problem is finding yourself thinking about it so much that it keeps you awake often.
In my opinion most of the theories I see here are thinking too large, like the song is a broad representation of society, when it is quite simply a lesson to help people who can't sleep due to past experiences and how they still torment you. The "Old guard" is an individual's defense in an everyday situation, blocking them from thinking clearly. These come about when an old experience is thought about too often, far beyond wringing all meaning from them. Probably the biggest point this song is making is that you need to know when you're being held back by your past, and that it needs to be destroyed. A good indicator that something is a problem is finding yourself thinking about it so much that it keeps you awake often.