Egg and Soldiers

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone caught in a cycle of short-term thinking, symbolized by the daily ritual of eating an "egg and soldier." This mundane act, repeated "every day," is juxtaposed with a growing awareness that time is catching up, a feeling of being watched "over at my shoulder." The presence of a "blanket made for three" hints at shared experiences or perhaps a burden carried by more than one, adding a layer of quiet unease to the routine. The central tension arises from the contrast between passive consumption and active creation, or perhaps a desperate attempt to find meaning. The narrator "swaps cow for bean" and attempts to "grow a stalk to tangle with the clouds," suggesting a desire for growth and aspiration, but this is immediately followed by planting "poems in the barren ground" and blowing "doldrums 'round and 'round." This implies a struggle to cultivate something meaningful in a seemingly infertile emotional or creative landscape, with a sense of futility in the repetitive "round and round." A striking image is the attempt to "search for heaven underground" after cutting "brambles down," suggesting a deep, perhaps hidden, quest for salvation or peace. This is immediately followed by the dramatic declaration, "For we drank the ocean," which could imply an overwhelming, perhaps destructive, indulgence or a complete absorption in something vast. The repeated phrase "We climbed a hill but then fell down" powerfully conveys a sense of repeated failure and the futility of effort, especially when contrasted with the dire warning that "Submarines won't save us now" as "Venice drowns." Ultimately, the lyrics seem to articulate a profound sense of loss and the belated realization of value. The outro's "You'll never find the answer till it's gone" encapsulates this theme. The narrator appears to be grappling with the consequences of past actions or inactions, recognizing that what was once present and perhaps taken for granted is now lost, and only in its absence can its true significance be understood.