Lone Oak Tree

my two pennies i liked the idea that this in a sense is the song of a soldier. but there are a few points, which makes me wonder that maybe this is not a song specifically about soldiers but rather the voices of those involved in war or watching it from afar. so i think there are a number of voices/people in this song, and it is not the story of one. why do i think this? in verse 1, the person is standing on the rooftop looking down at the white snow. as if when looking from above/distance we see nothing wrong with the world around us. regardless of the fact that this december has been long and dark. the white snow sounds beautiful. but then we go to verse 2, where there is someone looking up from that snow, looking at those who clearly see their suffering but do nothing about it, instead we allow them to die. so there are three people here already, one on the rooftop, one at the window and the one on ground. it's really sad, and makes you feel helpless. verse 3--we know that this "carnival of idiots" are the leaders of today. the fact that it is a carnival highlights that it's like party of these fools. we are leaving our future in the hands of those who cannot take responsibility for the power they have been given. and why must we lie low? because those who speak against these idiots are struck down, imprisoned, tortured..etc. they define who their enemies are, so no one is safe really. this whole section is about people who are not communicating and not understanding what the other sees. it's like we're all so close and yet worlds apart. verse 4--is the cry of all--telling the world to realise their role and act upon it. be the voices for those who dont have one. verse 5 and 6---there is no one in particular speaking here. rather its showing us what is going on while the individuals in the previous verses spoke about the snow. so what is happening? there is no room for religion when solace is found in consumerism. the fog has become God--very negative connotations around the idea of God. but it just highlights secularism and the movement away from dependence in religion. So much so that even people of religion have been convinced that this 'battle' is important. and the cross is held up high---the whole verse made me think of the crusades. verse 7---does honour only come in death? this reminded me of the soldiers who were sent to Iraq--it's as if only in death did people realise their loss. the guitar solo is really crucial to this song, it breaks up the detached nature of the previous verses. because it was like a story being told. but then... verse 8---this doesnt start in a dark december..this is NOW! he's telling us what he wants. this is the people speaking out saying that they do not want to be a part of a movement, an idea where the 'captain' or leader has no idea what he's doing. because being 'soldier' of this ship we are looking down where the snow is...and to follow this captain will not save us but rather bring us down to the snow. now this could mean two things--1. there is no hope for anyone to be safe from this 'war', or 2. we don't want to know what is going on in the world. we'd rather be on our rooftops or looking down from our windows. verse 9---this confuses me. we know that the 'leaders' dont love us. is it that why he was made to go or that someone let me go off the ship? verse 10--i think that violet hill is a metaphor for seeing things how it is. he took her 'down' to it, out of her comfort zone to see the world for what it is. and she shocked by what she saw. the last verses are a cry from both soldiers and victims of the atrocities in the world, for example Afghanistan and Iraq. the West say we are freeing these people from the ruthless grips of dictatorship and we offer them democracy, and yet millions die without so much a flinch from any of us. so how can show them that we care....we gotta let me know... sigh. i'm probably completely wrong, but these ar my thoughts. obviously, we see things through the lens life has given us.