Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of profound transition, a seismic shift felt deep within. There's a palpable sense of departure, with "packing up of things" and "loading of cars" signaling a physical move. This physical displacement mirrors an internal change, a "change that has started" in the heart, accompanied by a "farther and farther darkening dark," suggesting an uncertain, perhaps even somber, passage.
The core tension lies in the disorientation of this transition. The narrator grapples with uncertainty, asking, "And it's hard to know now where we should go" and "where will we be before the next season?" This questioning highlights a loss of clear direction, a feeling of being adrift as the familiar cycles of time pass without a fixed point of reference. The ambiguity extends to their very identity, as they can "hardly say / From which will we flower?"
The most striking image is the juxtaposition of "flower" with "buildings." This unexpected pairing suggests a hope for vibrant growth and renewal emerging from a seemingly sterile, urban environment. The narrator yearns for a future where they can "vividly live" amidst "lakes of orange, seas of green, cadmium scenes," a stark contrast to the implied grayness of their current state. The repetition of "I will hear everything you mean / I will see everything you mean" hints at a desire for profound connection and understanding in this new, yet undefined, phase.
This piece resonates because it captures the universal feeling of being on the precipice of something new, where the old is receding and the new is not yet formed. The writing skillfully uses the imagery of movement and the natural cycle of seasons to frame an internal emotional landscape of doubt and burgeoning hope. The ultimate question of "From which will we flower? / Brightly from the buildings now" leaves the listener with a sense of poignant, unresolved anticipation.
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