Seven O'clock vaguely sympathetic to Trump?

BF25394

Neither that song nor the singer is sympathetic to Donald Trump on any level.  If you think the song is sympathetic to Trump, you are misreading it.  If there's a lyric you think might be sympathetic to Trump, then that lyric is not about Trump.

Bu$chlager

Really appreciate all the feedback, everyone!
I fully appreciate that my interpretation is probably bogus - which is why I posted this.
It remains my favorite song on the album and really liked reading your different interpretations.
Cheers!

Foriginal Sin

That entire set of lyrics is aimed directly at Trump. Particularly “knows relief will be coming soon” as a nudge to say you’ll be out of office soon, although that is a toss up. 

Eloquent is described as speaking “clear and powerful” so watching a few episodes of The Apprentice back in the day I can see that. Now he sounds angry and defensive when he talks, so he lost it. 

Btw, my favorite song on the album for sure 

Ledbetterman10

BUSH-lager said:

Mjeffbr said:

I'd be surprised. I don't believe Ed would say "lost eloquence" since I don't believe there was a single period of time where Trump could have been considered eloquent by anyone, let alone Ed. Trump riffs, and speaks with a limited vocabulary and favors monosyllabic words. There's nothing approximating eloquence about that guy.

Right.  Even people who like Trump would not argue he is eloquent.  Heck, his lack thereof is part of his appeal.

They actually sort of acknowledge this in his latest ad. “President Trump’s not always polite...”

https://youtu.be/RALHEZnUBlw

SK20613

I think it's key to include the talking to the mirror part.  Everything after, in my mind is trumps own thoughts, looking in the mirror, and the relief coming soon is his departure from the whitehouse. So any sympathy implied, I see as trump's own towards himself.

Oh, talking to his mirror, what's he say? What's it say back? 
A tragedy of errors, who'll be the last to have a laugh?

His best days gone, hard to admit
Throwing angry punches with nothing to hit
Luminous thoughts were once all he had
Fading lights, lost eloquence
There's still a fire in the engine room
Knows relief will be coming soon

BloodMeridian80

I read that verse as being more about humanity/civilized humans. 

stuckinline

What are everyone's interpretation of the following lyrics?

Hangman in dreamland
About to call your name 

RS65573

He hopes he (Trump) dies in his sleep, is my interpretation.

SK20613

stuckinline said:

What are everyone's interpretation of the following lyrics?

Hangman in dreamland
About to call your name 

I interpreted that as he is the hangman (an executioner), who lives in a dreamland normally, but now it's his turn to be called up for execution. But I don't interpret it as violence, just the end of his term.

Sparkie

I think the chorus starting "best days gone" is no longer about Trump. It's about humanity, or maybe America as a country.

Hangman in dreamland
About to call your name 

I take this as a warning...Death is about to be coming for us all if we don't get our act together, because there's still "much to be done"

SK20613

Sparkie said:

I think the chorus starting "best days gone" is no longer about Trump. It's about humanity, or maybe America as a country.

Hangman in dreamland
About to call your name 

I take this as a warning...Death is about to be coming for us all if we don't get our act together, because there's still "much to be done"

True, it could be about humans, we are the executioners and our turn is up, if we don't get our act together.

RS65573

I like that better. Good interpretation.

edocon

Sparkie said:

I think the chorus starting "best days gone" is no longer about Trump. It's about humanity, or maybe America as a country.

Hangman in dreamland
About to call your name 

I take this as a warning...Death is about to be coming for us all if we don't get our act together, because there's still "much to be done"

"His best days gone, hard to admit
Throwing angry punches with nothing to hit"

I don't know....that so perfectly fits Trump. Especially applicable now that he can't just bully the coronavirus away.

stuckinline

Thanks everyone! ^^^^

ceska

edocon said:

Sparkie said:

I think the chorus starting "best days gone" is no longer about Trump. It's about humanity, or maybe America as a country.

Hangman in dreamland
About to call your name 

I take this as a warning...Death is about to be coming for us all if we don't get our act together, because there's still "much to be done"

"His best days gone, hard to admit
Throwing angry punches with nothing to hit"

I don't know....that so perfectly fits Trump. Especially applicable now that he can't just bully the coronavirus away.

Oh he can still bully other things away. This week alone he has endorsed posts that referred to "dead Democrats" and  has tweeted his support for shooting the Minnesota protestors. He still has plenty of targets in his mind.

Foriginal Sin

edocon said:

Sparkie said:

I think the chorus starting "best days gone" is no longer about Trump. It's about humanity, or maybe America as a country.

Hangman in dreamland
About to call your name 

I take this as a warning...Death is about to be coming for us all if we don't get our act together, because there's still "much to be done"

"His best days gone, hard to admit
Throwing angry punches with nothing to hit"

I don't know....that so perfectly fits Trump. Especially applicable now that he can't just bully the coronavirus away.

100%, that is about Trump no question from “Sitting Bull to relief will be coming soon” every lyric hits. 

I literally just heard on the news a gentleman describing the Gov of Minn. “this is leadership, searing eloquence, etc...” and then described what Trump isn’t doing. 

DeLukin

robbie said:

I think for sure the verse is ed speaking about himself.

I agree. I think it's an admission of time passing, regret, and maybe lost luster. I think all of us feel this way as we age. But as long as there is still a fire in the engine room there is still work to be done and an obligation to try to make the world a better place.

Foriginal Sin

Damn I just heard on the good speakers. 

“There’s steady fire in the engine room”
I thought it was “still a fire” 

makes more sense 

pjhawks

BUSH-lager said:

I need some help here.  Every time I listen to Seven O'Clock I am struck by the second chorus:

His best days gone, hard to admit
Throwing angry punches with nothing to hit
Luminous thoughts were once all he had
Fading lights, lost eloquence
There's still a fire in the engine room
Knows relief will be coming soon

Obviously I don't think Ed would ever say anything positive about Trump - but I interpret these lines as having some sympathy for the man.  Even seeming to suggest that Trump was once good (luminous thoughts, fading lights) and even eloquent (lost eloquence.)

Did Ed at one point in his life admire Trump?
Does he have genuine empathy for him?

Or am I completely off the reservation on this?  If so, someone set me straight!

(P.S. This song is amazing

I interpret those lines more at Trump supporters/Republicans and how they have gone down this path with Trump.