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Dear John
Spitfire Lyrics


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Dear john
Someday you're gonna be somebody
But not today
Dear john
Someday you're gonna have somebody
That day is not today
Today you will hang your head
Altruistically counting the cracks in the pavement ahead
Flocking with our herd's behavior
Adopting our pack's mentality
Rubbing elbows with the chipped shoulders
Are we the arms and legs of a vast inclusion
Or the slings and crutches of a grand delusion
Here we are anthills of neuron charges
There is no retention of self
No retention of self
There is only emotional detachment and human behavior

Overall Meaning

The song "Dear John" by Spitfire is a poignant reflection on the disillusionment that comes with growing up and realizing that sometimes the dreams we had as children may not come to fruition. The song addresses a character named John who is told that "someday you're gonna be somebody, but not today". This line echoes the age-old adage that success comes with time and effort, but in this case, it feels like a hollow platitude. John is also told that "someday you're gonna have somebody, but that day is not today", which seems to suggest a loneliness or longing that he may be experiencing.


Line by Line Meaning

Dear john
The singer is addressing John


Someday you're gonna be somebody
John will eventually achieve success


But not today
However, today is not that day


Someday you're gonna have somebody
John will also find love at some point


That day is not today
But again, it's not going to happen today


Today you will hang your head
Today, John will be disheartened


Altruistically counting the cracks in the pavement ahead
John will be looking down, contemplating the path before him


Flocking with our herd's behavior
John is participating in group behavior


Adopting our pack's mentality
John is conforming to the group's way of thinking


Rubbing elbows with the chipped shoulders
John is mingling with those who have experienced hardship


Are we the arms and legs of a vast inclusion
The singer questions if the group is united for positive reasons


Or the slings and crutches of a grand delusion
Are they providing real support or propagating a false belief?


Here we are anthills of neuron charges
The group is compared to an ant colony of electrical impulses in the brain


There is no retention of self
Individuality is lost in the group


No retention of self
The same idea is repeated, emphasizing its importance


There is only emotional detachment and human behavior
The group creates a sense of emotional detachment and leads to predictable behavior




Contributed by Alaina A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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