Life And How To Live It (Live In Mexico City, November 18th, 2008)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a person grappling with choices and the construction of their own life, symbolized by walls and doors. The opening lines, "Burn bright through the night, two pockets lead the way," suggest a drive and a duality in decision-making, with "two doors to go between the wall was raised today" implying a newly formed boundary or a significant life event that necessitates a choice. The narrator seems to be managing different aspects of their life, perhaps personal versus public or different paths, keeping "books well stocked" as a metaphor for preparedness or knowledge to "take your happy home." The central tension emerges from the frantic energy of the "carpenter" and "pockets" that are "running about and talking to the street" and "barking in the street." This imagery suggests an internal conflict or external pressures that are loud and insistent, trying to reveal what's "hidden there." The carpenter, typically a builder, is restless, perhaps representing the active construction or deconstruction of the narrator's life, while the "pockets" might symbolize resources or secrets being exposed. A striking element is the recurring phrase "Raise the walls to chide its flaws, the carpenter should rest." This implies a need to fortify oneself against imperfections, but also a recognition that the builder needs respite. The idea that "when you tire of one side, the other serves you best" highlights a strategy of having alternate paths or perspectives readily available. The bridge, with its "hills ringing hear the words in time" and "walls within my tongue," further emphasizes the internal nature of this struggle, where external sounds and internal structures become intertwined, leading to a moment of realization: "Life and how to live it." Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their evocative, almost surreal imagery that captures the complex, often noisy process of self-definition. The repetition of the carpenter and pockets, combined with the building and resting of walls, creates a sense of ongoing, dynamic construction of identity and experience. The final declaration to write a book titled "Life and How to Live It" serves as a meta-commentary, framing the entire lyrical exploration as a quest for understanding and articulation, perhaps, a definitive answer to the very question posed.