The Chorus in Context

The chorus is as follows:

Signs Signs

Everywhere there's signs

Fucking up the scenery

Breaking my mind

Do this, don't do that

Can't you read the sign

My argument is that the narrator feels signs are all around us in our society. The main word in the chorus is "signs," but what does he mean by signs? signs tell us what to do they control our lives and take away Signs are things we see that control our everyday actions? He says everywhere there's signs. For example street signs, billboards, restaurant signs, the list could go on and on. These from our freedom. They can also be seen as taking away from natural scenery because they are found everywhere. they can be found on the streets, billboards, buildings, private property, landmarks.

A dictionary definition states a sign is:

"a notice, bearing a name, direction, warning, or advertisement, that is displayed or posted for public view: a traffic sign; a store sign." (dictionary) Certain signs restrict us from doing what we want in our everyday lives. There are penalties if you don't follow the signs. Examples of this are if you blow through a red light or stop sign you will get a ticket. Other signs include not hiring sign on a business. This restricts you from getting a job. Or a common one is private property "do not trespass" When we see signs like this we always want to do the opposite but know we can't. This chorus relates back to the first stanza because the man saw a hiring sign saying "long haired freaky people need not apply." he is saying signs like these keep us form doing what we want. They place restrictions and rules on our lives. This makes us conform to them to avoid the penalties. He's saying why must everyone conform and become a stereotype. The last line says "can't you read the sign" this makes it like he's saying someone is saying this. It is something we are questioned often in our life. He is sick of all the signs and their purposes. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/signs