I'm not particuarly mad about this music video, either (ah, the 90's...)

 

None of the lyrics are gonna go into the story, of course... not like I've done with TYPERS and 'Serenade'. The fact that I'm inspired by the lyrics is just a point of fact, that's all, and while the real story behind the song is a little depressing I've found that a certain interpretation is a perfect summary of the central thesis of the R.O.E.:

 

We're not getting paradise back. We lost it, a long time ago, and in doing so we became something different than God desired, but still something with worth. The best we can do is grow, both technologically and psychologically, knowing that the crude shadows of our bodies might never see heaven, but that our souls are destined for God's country, at least.

 

Most importantly: We CANNOT force our way back into the gates of Eden, literally or figuratively, and our innocence as a species (our cherry) was indeed traded for an apple (pun!). In this form, in this life, the best we can do is help each other grow in mind and body. If we ever have a CHANCE to redeem our animal 'innocence' (say, if civilization were destroyed...) we should still pass on the offer. We're imperfect creatures, children of God though we be, and we stopped being mere cattle long ago, for good or for ill...

 

This is the part of the song that I simply can't get over: 

"They drank up the wine
And they got to talking
They now had more important things to say
And when the car broke down they started walking
Where were they going without ever knowing the way?
Anyone could see the road that they walked on was paved in gold
And it’s always summer they’ll never get cold
They’ll never get hungry, they’ll never get old and grey.
You can see their shadows wandering off somewhere
They won’t make it home but they really don’t care:
They wanted the highway, they’re happier there today."

 Hells, yeah...