Missed The Boat

Modest Mouse's song "Missed The Boat" delves into themes of regret, missed opportunities, and the human tendency to deceive oneself. The lyrics paint a picture of individuals who are constantly looking towards the future while yearning for the past, highlighting a sense of dissatisfaction and longing. The opening lines, "While we're on the subject / Could we change the subject now?" suggest a desire to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths, setting the tone for the introspective journey that follows.

The song explores the idea that people often get caught up in comparing themselves to others, as seen in the lines, "Everyone's unhappy / Everyone's ashamed / Well all just got caught / Lookin' at somebody else's page." This comparison leads to a collective sense of inadequacy and discontent. The metaphor of building a dam with ideas that hold no water illustrates the futility of their efforts and the false sense of accomplishment they cling to. The repeated refrain, "Oh, and we carried it all so well / As if we'd got a new position," underscores the irony of their self-deception.

As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the characters have missed significant opportunities, symbolized by the boat and the plane. The line, "We didn't read the invite / We just danced at our wake," poignantly captures the idea of celebrating their own failures, oblivious to the reality of their situation. The imagery of tiny curtains opening and tiny hands clapping adds a surreal, almost absurd quality to their self-delusion. Ultimately, the song is a reflection on the human condition, the inevitability of making mistakes, and the importance of recognizing and learning from them.