We don't understand why they hold onto irrational beliefs, why they are stuck in their ways. It shows how in the beginning, we rail against the establishment, the old, the powerful. This song discusses one of my favourite themes in history, art, literature, and music, through the microcosm of one man's life from childhood to retirement and old age. The lyrics are also incredibly poetic in their simple but effective imagery.ħ The Pantaloon. It provides a lot of insight into the Christian idea of sacrifice, which until I heard this song made little sense to me. Some of the best narrative songwriting ever, it perfectly captures a very specific mood and tells a very compelling story.
Also, potentially unpopular opinion, the use of autotune as an effect here is just awesome, especially in contrast with the choral outro that comes you right after.Ħ A Car, A Torch, A Death. Another absolutely brilliant instrumental intro, just makes one want to go pick up an instrument and write something! The inspirational value of a song is huge to me, and this definitely has it, not just instrumentally, but the lyrics are also incredible, expressing a very universal and real fear of how emotional, romantic intimacy both makes the highs of love and happiness so much higher, and makes one so much more vulnerable by sharing one's soul. It's something I personally relate to a lot, and additionally it has a killer drum groove and piano part.ĥ Air Catcher. It perfectly captures the isolation that mental illness can cause, especially on those with a lot of responsibility or power, since those people are so often discouraged from showing any sign of weakness, so often made to keep it all bottled up. The pure aggression in the screams at the end also is just brilliantĤ Johnny Boy. It's a riff on the level of like Seven Nation Army or Day Tripper, so iconic and ear-catching that it inspires many young people to become musicians. The transition from soft, melancholic piano to wild, almost schizophrenic synths is just brilliant and fits the song like a gloveģ Jumpsuit.
While the lyrics here are also great, introspective, and provide an interesting perspective on a complex issue, the instrumental part is what I really love about this song. But, ultimately it's like Robert Frost said: "the only way out is through." It also has what I think are Tyler's best vocals out of any song I've heard him sing.Ģ Implicit Demand for Proof. In politics, in mental health, in religious matters, in life generally there are so many things that make it seem like there's an easy way to skip all the hardship and misery.
Brief note: this is my personal interpretation of a lot of these songs so something you see in them I might not, and vice versa.ġ March to the Sea.