Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of internal conflict and a desperate search for understanding, framed by a surreal encounter. Initially, there's a yearning to know what lies within a mysterious 'coast' or 'box,' so much so that the narrator would kiss 'the Prince of Metternich' if they understood. This sets up a tone of bewildered longing, a desire to connect with something or someone powerful and perhaps enigmatic. The central tension emerges with the introduction of 'Schmidt,' the 'thought counter.' This character reveals a bleak assessment of internal discourse: out of fifteen thoughts, only two are good, three are mean, and the rest are too unspeakable to discuss. This stark division highlights a profound self-doubt and a struggle with one's own mind, making the earlier desire to kiss the Prince seem like a wish for external guidance or escape from this internal chaos. The most striking craft element is the dramatic reversal in the final stanza. After the narrator claims to be the 'Prince of Metternich' and engages in a fragmented dialogue that seems to be with himself, the earlier desire to kiss the Prince is negated: "And when I knew / What was in this box / I would kiss / You / Not." This suggests a realization that the very thing he sought or the identity he projected is not worth the affection he initially imagined, or perhaps that understanding the 'box' reveals a disappointing truth. This lyrical construction is effective because it moves from a seemingly external quest to an internal reckoning, using the surreal figure of the Prince of Metternich as a focal point for this journey. The stark, almost clinical breakdown of thoughts by 'Schmidt' contrasts sharply with the initial romanticized longing, creating a potent sense of disillusionment. The final, definitive "Not" after the repeated claim of being the Prince underscores a profound self-rejection or a grim acceptance of one's own flawed internal landscape.