☝️ Key Points
- The song is about the superficiality and lack of authenticity in our modern society.
- It criticizes the media and their influence on us.
- The lyrics urge listeners to break free from their superficial existence and have real experiences.
- It is implied that superficial life is ultimately empty and meaningless.
Interpretation
The song "Scratching the Surface" by
Saga is about the shallowness and lack of authenticity in our modern society. The lyrics describe a person who spends all their time in front of the television, only superficially observing the world. They play scenes on the TV screen and dream of an exciting life, while they themselves have nothing to say.
The line "Playing scenes on T.V. screens" suggests that the person is just a passive viewer and does not truly engage in life. They only scratch the surface of things without going deeper.
The lyrics also criticize the media and the way they influence us. The line "Strapped to the media, a machine to fear" describes the fear that arises from media manipulation.
The chorus "Scratching the surface" urges the person to break free from their shallow existence and experience real things. The lines "You better come up for air" and "A new experience to get you there" encourage the person to detach from the media and live their own life.
At the end of the lyrics, it is implied that the person who lives superficially has tried to achieve something significant, but ultimately has nothing to say. The line "You tried so hard, and so far you have nothing to say" shows the emptiness and meaninglessness of this shallow existence.
Overall, the lyrics of the song "Scratching the Surface" criticize the shallowness and influence of the media in our society, and encourage listeners to delve deeper and experience real things.