So, uh, I may be waaaay off base here, but I believe that SOTT is a pride song. Now, these are just my thoughts, and I could be reading way too deep into this, so don't hate me for it, alright?
"Just stop your crying, it's a sign of the times."
• recently, LGBT+ community has been going through a lot (recently, as in these past few years)
•legalization of gay marriage, the shootings at LGBT+ bars, Trump, etc.
•now, this is my own opinion, but I don't believe Harry to be 100% straight, I think he's bisexual (or gay idk) but again PERSONAL OPINION. believe what you wish
•Tears have been shed and many lives have been taken over the years while dealing with LGBT+ and their rights and such. TEARS=CRYING
"We got to get away from here"
•People still don't feel safe in the place they happen to call home because of their sexualities( or hell, even genders )
•What does one do when they don't feel safe? they run away, escape, and search for freedom
"You can't bribe the door on your way to the sky"
•well, in the Bible, it's a sin to "lie with another man"
•its believed that being gay (as in LGBT+, I'm not trying to only focus on gay, it's just the generic term, sorry) is a sin, and you can't get into heaven until you repent for all your sins
•so, theoretically, if you never repent and you die, you won't be allowed into heaven because you are a sinner
•and you can't bribe your way into heaven
"You look pretty good down here, but you ain't really good"
•Again, being non-heterosexual in anyway is considered a sin. SIN=NOT GOOD
"Why are we always stuck and running from the bullets?"
•LGBT+ community has always been shunned, and for a majority of the time, nothing was ever really done about it. They were STUCK.
•At times, they quite literally had to run from the bullets (the recent shootings)
•However, this can be metaphorical as well. SLANDERS AND SLURS have harmed people of this community for years upon years upon years.•"Stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Yeah, not all people feel the same. The words of hating people can be metaphorically seen as bullets.
"Have the time of your life, breaking through the atmosphere"
•i think he's saying to enjoy the freedom we've got while we can because with the way the world is looking right now, who knows what could happen (APPLIES TO EVERYBODY)
"They told me that the end is near."
•On the positive side of things, a lot of great things has happened for the LGBT+ community
•Marches
•Recognition of ALL sexualities
•Approval of marriage
"We never learn, we've been here before."
•People have been targeted for their sexuality
•Just when the coast seems clear, something new pops up to rile everyone up again and the peace disappears
"We don't talk enough. We should open up, before it's all too much. Will we ever learn?"
•In all honesty, this hit me the hardest and convinced me to express my thoughts to the public.
•People in society are told to be comfortable with themselves, right? "Be who you are. Be yourself." I believe, is the quote?
•People need to stand up for themselves, we are taught to stand up against bullies, and to help those without a VOICE.
•"Speak before it's too late." Is what I believe Harry is trying to say.
I have a lot more on this subject, as well as thoughts on other songs by the lads (solos and not solos) but this song hit me hard and I felt the need to discuss this all. Sorry if you don't agree with things I stated, but the song is open to everyone's interpretation. As far as we know, there's no set meaning behind the lyrics.
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Song Interpretations
AcakMy interpretation of Sign of the Times. Possibly other songs by the boys, both solo and together, if I get around to it.