Brave New World
Michael Penn Lyrics

Baby's busy hiding in the bassinet
A helpless infant seeks refuge in the crib from the chaos of an uncertain world.

Wonderin' if the third world war started yet
The child has good reason to worry about a global conflict that could escalate at any time.

I told her I was pulling up and heading west
The adult assures the child that they are leaving the danger zone and heading to a safer place.

She said she would have come but she was overdressed
The child regrets not being able to join the adult on the journey because of a minor inconvenience.

So I sent a picture postcard of a midwest bank
The adult sends a symbol of stability to reassure the child of the new destination.

She wrote me that she showed it to her new friend Frank
The child shares the postcard with someone new in their life, perhaps to validate their own sense of hope.

Who noticed in a window on the 19th floor
The observer catches a glimpse of the outside world from a high vantage point.

A guy my age about to prove that man can't soar
The person sees someone like themselves on the brink of falling, which reflects the fragility of human existence.

He would also like to know
The observer has a request for the adult based on the unsettling image they saw.

If I could just check around before I left this town
The observer wants the adult to search for more evidence of society's precarity before leaving.

For slow-mo footage of the tumble down so
The observer wants a closer look at society's decay in order to understand its root causes.

This may not be my best day
The adult acknowledges that the world is in flux and any given day could be fraught with danger.

But this ain't no golden age
The adult juxtaposes the present against a nostalgic past to show that the current state is not a paradise.

You looked pretty on the freeway
The adult compliments the child's appearance, perhaps to build their self-confidence.

Let's drive into the brave new world.
The adult prepares the child to face the challenges of an unknown future by framing it as an adventure.

A van pulls up and someone offers me a ride
The adult encounters a stranger and must quickly decide whether to trust them or not.

The driver lost the map and he was terrified
The driver is unsure of the way forward and feeling fearful, which adds to the sense of insecurity.

Everybody whispering to save his pride say
The group tries to mitigate the driver's embarrassment by acting discreetly around him.

"Son would you be kind enough to be our guide?"
The group turns to the adult for help as an experienced navigator and protector.

The driver yells, "the one in back already tried,
The driver rebuffs the suggestion of the group, which suggests a lack of cooperation among them.

But his memory is rusty and his vision tied."
The driver dismisses the person behind him as an unreliable resource.

Glasses and a lubricant were by his side but
The driver has some tools to help him, but they are not enough to overcome his limitations.

The tin man was inanimate, the lion lied
The driver's companions prove to be unhelpful or ineffectual, which highlights the difficulties of relying on others in a time of crisis.

Did not want to see me go
The adult has a connection to someone who is reluctant to send them off into the unknown.

But I did not want to be another musketeer
The adult refuses to fall into the trap of blindly following a group without questioning their motivations or goals.

'Cause the gas runs out before the van's in gear
The adult points out the practical difficulties of staying with the group, such as running out of resources.

Buster and his company look good in black
The adult sees a group of people who seem to be dressed up for a special occasion, which could signal either optimism or doom.

They're looking for a way out of the cul-de-sac
The group is seeking a way to escape from a closed, dead-end space.

Tearing through the phone book and the almanac
The group frantically searches for information or guidance in order to make progress.

They all have dusty noses 'cause they sniff shellac
The group has been exposed to dangerous or illusory substances in their quest for a way out.

Finally found the number of a matador
The group discovers the contact information for someone who could be a valuable ally, but also raises questions about how they came to know a matador's phone number.

Who rode up in a Beemer with a pricey whore
The mysterious stranger arrives in a luxurious car with a questionable companion, which adds another layer of complexity to the situation.

But Buster wasn't quick enough
The group fails to take advantage of the opportunity that presented itself, possibly due to indecisiveness or inaction.

He'd lock the door
The newcomer is wary of the group's intentions and takes steps to protect themselves.

And rode off sayin' he'd be back before the war
The newcomer promises to return to the group before a looming conflict breaks out, which suggests a tenuous alliance at best.

By then the night was falling slow
The adult notes a shift in the environment that could add to the difficulties of reaching a new destination in a timely manner.

And I did not want to stick around and just look old
The adult is keen to keep moving and resistant to the idea of growing stagnant or complacent.

When I saw you pulling onto my soft shoulder
The adult sees a familiar and comforting figure who offers a reprieve from the challenges of the journey.

Please don't hit me if I do say
The adult jokingly asks for forgiveness in case they say something controversial or unexpected.

But this ain't no golden age
The adult reiterates the theme of change and uncertainty that pervades the lyrics.

You looked so pretty on the freeway
The adult compliments the companion's appearance again, highlighting the importance of support and validation in difficult times.

Let's drive into the brave new world.
The adult reaffirms the idea that the journey into the unknown is an adventure to be embraced.