Sounds a lot like a group of people who keep rebelling against the same thing, over and over, but who are never willing to actually martyr themselves for their cause. Which suggests they don't believe in it that much.
"Chairs thrown and tables toppled,
Hands armed with broken bottles,
Standing no chance to win but,
We're not runnin', we're not runnin'."
This is the bit that suggests rebellion to me, which makes what follows extremely interesting.
"There's a point I think we're missin',
It's in the air we raise our fists in,
In the smiles we cast each other,
My sister, my brother.
About the time we gave up hope and
We never find these locks still open,
Stumbling on stones unturned,
The hurt we feel, we all have found."
They're rebelling by this point, judging by the first paragraph, so what's the point they're missing? He says it's in the air they raise their fists in; air is often used symbolically as a symbol for peaceful change (note that it isn't in the fists themselves). It's also in the smiles they cast each other which seem familial to the singer.
That leads me to believe that he doesn't think they should be doing this violently. The answer is in the air, and in smiles; that means it isn't in fists, broken bottles, flames, etc.
"Time out, let's stop and think this through
We've all got better things to do
A talk in circles, run in place
Answers inches from my face."
After that, this is obvious. The singer is trying to get people to stop the violence for a while so that they can all think about what they're doing, but the rest of the band is either unwilling to do it ("We've all got better things to do,") or isn't willing to actually consider anything other than what they're already doing ("A talk in circles, run in place.")
("Black eyes, broken fingers
Blood drips, and I let it run, down my lips and into my swollen gums.
When hope is nonexistent
Our instincts all scream run
We never turn our backs or even bite our tongues.")
He presents several very unpleasant images, then immediately associates them with not running, not thinking about what one is saying, and not following one's instincts.
Most importantly, the chorus is about giving up.
("Although we have no obligation, to stay alive
On broken backs we beg for mercy, we will survive
(Break out) I won't be left here
Behind closed doors.")
Honestly, that should pretty much prove my point. The singer isn't willing to die for his cause.
Sounds a lot like a group of people who keep rebelling against the same thing, over and over, but who are never willing to actually martyr themselves for their cause. Which suggests they don't believe in it that much.
"Chairs thrown and tables toppled, Hands armed with broken bottles, Standing no chance to win but, We're not runnin', we're not runnin'."
This is the bit that suggests rebellion to me, which makes what follows extremely interesting.
"There's a point I think we're missin', It's in the air we raise our fists in, In the smiles we cast each other, My sister, my brother.
About the time we gave up hope and We never find these locks still open, Stumbling on stones unturned, The hurt we feel, we all have found."
They're rebelling by this point, judging by the first paragraph, so what's the point they're missing? He says it's in the air they raise their fists in; air is often used symbolically as a symbol for peaceful change (note that it isn't in the fists themselves). It's also in the smiles they cast each other which seem familial to the singer. That leads me to believe that he doesn't think they should be doing this violently. The answer is in the air, and in smiles; that means it isn't in fists, broken bottles, flames, etc.
"Time out, let's stop and think this through We've all got better things to do A talk in circles, run in place Answers inches from my face."
After that, this is obvious. The singer is trying to get people to stop the violence for a while so that they can all think about what they're doing, but the rest of the band is either unwilling to do it ("We've all got better things to do,") or isn't willing to actually consider anything other than what they're already doing ("A talk in circles, run in place.")
("Black eyes, broken fingers Blood drips, and I let it run, down my lips and into my swollen gums. When hope is nonexistent Our instincts all scream run We never turn our backs or even bite our tongues.")
He presents several very unpleasant images, then immediately associates them with not running, not thinking about what one is saying, and not following one's instincts.
Most importantly, the chorus is about giving up.
("Although we have no obligation, to stay alive On broken backs we beg for mercy, we will survive (Break out) I won't be left here Behind closed doors.")
Honestly, that should pretty much prove my point. The singer isn't willing to die for his cause.