Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of anticipation and disillusionment, starting with a grand image of an airplane carrying 'criminals and astronauts' to Rio, a symbol of distant, perhaps illicit, aspirations. This lofty vision is immediately contrasted with the mundane reality of a 'vapor trail left to remind us of the dreams on sale,' suggesting that even grand ambitions are commodified and fleeting. The repeated phrase 'Tomorrow starts at midnight' acts as a persistent, almost desperate, countdown to a new beginning that feels perpetually out of reach, underscored by the stark 'Tonight.'
The central tension emerges from a desire for clarity versus overwhelming complexity and deception. The narrator pleads, 'Tell me something I understand / Don't talk to me in circles,' indicating frustration with obfuscation or perhaps a personal inability to grasp the situation. This is amplified by the repeated 'With so much things to say,' hinting at unspoken truths or overwhelming, unarticulated feelings that prevent genuine connection or understanding. The recurring 'You leave me in wonder' captures a state of bewildered awe, tinged with uncertainty about the actions of another person.
The most striking lyrical device is the repeated motif of 'falling over backwards,' used to describe frantic, perhaps desperate, actions. This phrase is coupled with imagery of dishonesty and financial recklessness: 'hands in the till' and 'credit card.' The narrator observes this behavior with a sense of detached bewilderment, noting it's done 'far too hard.' This intense, almost self-destructive effort contrasts sharply with the earlier 'dreams on sale,' suggesting a frantic pursuit of something that is either unattainable or corrupt, leaving the narrator in a state of unresolved awe.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their ability to evoke a specific emotional landscape of hopeful waiting that curdles into confusion and a sense of loss. The juxtaposition of grand imagery with mundane or deceitful actions, the insistent but unfulfilled promise of 'Tomorrow starts at midnight,' and the bewildered observation of chaotic behavior create a potent atmosphere. The final lines, 'The setting sun has fallen down / There are no jewels left in the crown,' solidify this feeling of diminished glory and the quiet resignation that follows a failed or corrupted pursuit.
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