Song Meaning
The lyrics open with a deceptively cheerful image of "lovely happy smiling faces," quickly juxtaposed with the unsettling idea that "the world is up for auction." This immediate tension sets a tone of wary observation. The speaker then extends an urgent, repeated invitation: "So come on get in." It's a call to action, or perhaps a retreat, for someone who understands.
The core tension appears to be between an external, perhaps superficial, world and an internal, shared history of non-conformity or struggle. The speaker identifies with a past refusal to "pay the ferry man," suggesting a deliberate rejection of conventional passage or consequence. This past is shared, hinted at by "Something like you" and "Something like me," implying a kindred spirit who understands this defiance.
The phrase "We skated for so long" is particularly evocative, suggesting a prolonged period of effortless, perhaps aimless, movement or avoidance. It implies a certain freedom, but also a lack of commitment or direction that the insistent "come on get in" now seeks to resolve. This imagery, coupled with the allusion to the "ferry man," paints a picture of individuals who have long existed outside the expected paths.
The power of these lyrics lies in their ability to create a sense of shared, unspoken history. The repeated invitation isn't just a call to join; it's a recognition of a mutual past ("you know how it's been") and a plea to move beyond a prolonged state of limbo. The contrast between the world's transactional nature and the speaker's defiant past makes the call to "get in" feel like an offer of refuge or a renewed commitment to a different path, understood only by those who have "skated for so long."
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