The general consensus on this song has always been that it is about the ancient Greek myth of Dedalus. I’m inclined to agree, but upon listening to the song this morning I came up with another interpretation. It may be a bit of a stretch, and I doubt there’s much truth to it, but it’s still interesting.
The new interpretation I came up with is that it’s about Neo-Nazis. (yeah, lame….I know.) Hear me out.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]As the sun breaks, above the ground,[/quote]
The sun represents the rise of a new generation, likely Generation Y (people born between 1979 and 1990). The sunrise is a much-used literary device that symbolizes rebirth, or the start of something new.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]An old man stands on the hill,[/quote]
The old man, of course, represents Hitler, or at least his legacy. The Neo-Nazi movement looks to his example for inspiration.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]As the ground warms, to the first rays of light
A birdsong shatters the still.[/quote]
The ground warming represents the impressionable young generation growing up, becoming frustrated with their society. Like Al-Qaeda today, Hitler appealed to impressionable young people who felt they had nothing to lose.
The bird song could have few interpretations. It could be symbolic of the German Eagle, a symbol the Nazis exploited. The Neo-Nazi movement makes the eagle sing once more.
Alternatively, from an American perspective, it could be symbolic of the American eagle, which is a symbol of strength, freedom, hope, etc. (yeah, I know a lot of folks who disagree with that, but that’s what is is supposed to symbolize.) The Neo-Nazis are literally making the America cry….it goes against the vision the US was supposed to follow.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]His eyes are ablaze,
See the madman in his gaze.[/quote]
It was said that Hitler had a captivating personality. Albert Speer once wrote that his eyes were Hitler’s best weapon. Simply by staring at someone he could bend them to his will.
That he was a madman is unquestionable. Look at some photos of him giving speeches…he was batshit insane.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]Fly, on your way, like an eagle,
Fly as high as the sun,
On your way, like an eagle,
Fly and touch the sun.[/quote]
If you buy my view that the Eagle represents the Nazi Eagle, then it’s easy to see that here that the eagle is trying to “touch the sun”, that is to say it’s trying to touch a new generation to fill them with hate and fear.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]Now the crowd breaks and a young boy appears
Looks the old man in the eye[/quote]
Again, we have a young person appearing before the old guy. The Neo-Nazi movement has appeal to disgruntled white youths, and they look to Hitler as a solution to their problems.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]As he spreads his wings and shouts at the crowd
In the name of God my father I fly.[/quote]
Hitler has been elevated to almost god-like status in the Neo-Nazi movement. Even in Nazi Germany, everything was done in his name. The young man is pledging his loyalty to the movement, in the name of Hitler.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]His eyes seem so glazed
As he flies on the wings of a dream,[/quote]
Glazed eyes are a symptom of intoxication (from alcohol, drugs, etc) Neo-Nazi rhetoric is a drug which clouds the vision of its followers. They thrive (fly) on a dream of ‘cleansing’ the world of ‘impure’ blood.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]Now he knows his father betrayed
Now his wings turn to ashes to ashes his grave.[/quote]
Hitler always claimed that Germany had been betrayed in 1918, but it was he himself who betrayed his country. He caused Germany to be ruined, much like the lives of young people are ruined by the Neo-Nazis.
Like I said before, I don’t really give much credence to this interpretation, but it’s still fun to make the case. The problem (or perhaps the beauty) with a song like this is that it relies so heavily on imagery and symbolism, leaving it open to multiple analyses.
I’d appreciate any feedback on this.
Duke.
The new interpretation I came up with is that it’s about Neo-Nazis. (yeah, lame….I know.) Hear me out.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]As the sun breaks, above the ground,[/quote]
The sun represents the rise of a new generation, likely Generation Y (people born between 1979 and 1990). The sunrise is a much-used literary device that symbolizes rebirth, or the start of something new.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]An old man stands on the hill,[/quote]
The old man, of course, represents Hitler, or at least his legacy. The Neo-Nazi movement looks to his example for inspiration.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]As the ground warms, to the first rays of light
A birdsong shatters the still.[/quote]
The ground warming represents the impressionable young generation growing up, becoming frustrated with their society. Like Al-Qaeda today, Hitler appealed to impressionable young people who felt they had nothing to lose.
The bird song could have few interpretations. It could be symbolic of the German Eagle, a symbol the Nazis exploited. The Neo-Nazi movement makes the eagle sing once more.
Alternatively, from an American perspective, it could be symbolic of the American eagle, which is a symbol of strength, freedom, hope, etc. (yeah, I know a lot of folks who disagree with that, but that’s what is is supposed to symbolize.) The Neo-Nazis are literally making the America cry….it goes against the vision the US was supposed to follow.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]His eyes are ablaze,
See the madman in his gaze.[/quote]
It was said that Hitler had a captivating personality. Albert Speer once wrote that his eyes were Hitler’s best weapon. Simply by staring at someone he could bend them to his will.
That he was a madman is unquestionable. Look at some photos of him giving speeches…he was batshit insane.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]Fly, on your way, like an eagle,
Fly as high as the sun,
On your way, like an eagle,
Fly and touch the sun.[/quote]
If you buy my view that the Eagle represents the Nazi Eagle, then it’s easy to see that here that the eagle is trying to “touch the sun”, that is to say it’s trying to touch a new generation to fill them with hate and fear.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]Now the crowd breaks and a young boy appears
Looks the old man in the eye[/quote]
Again, we have a young person appearing before the old guy. The Neo-Nazi movement has appeal to disgruntled white youths, and they look to Hitler as a solution to their problems.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]As he spreads his wings and shouts at the crowd
In the name of God my father I fly.[/quote]
Hitler has been elevated to almost god-like status in the Neo-Nazi movement. Even in Nazi Germany, everything was done in his name. The young man is pledging his loyalty to the movement, in the name of Hitler.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]His eyes seem so glazed
As he flies on the wings of a dream,[/quote]
Glazed eyes are a symptom of intoxication (from alcohol, drugs, etc) Neo-Nazi rhetoric is a drug which clouds the vision of its followers. They thrive (fly) on a dream of ‘cleansing’ the world of ‘impure’ blood.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]Now he knows his father betrayed
Now his wings turn to ashes to ashes his grave.[/quote]
Hitler always claimed that Germany had been betrayed in 1918, but it was he himself who betrayed his country. He caused Germany to be ruined, much like the lives of young people are ruined by the Neo-Nazis.
Like I said before, I don’t really give much credence to this interpretation, but it’s still fun to make the case. The problem (or perhaps the beauty) with a song like this is that it relies so heavily on imagery and symbolism, leaving it open to multiple analyses.
I’d appreciate any feedback on this.
Duke.